Libearty Bear Sanctuary, Zărnești

Libearty Bear Sanctuary in Zărnești is the largest brown bear sanctuary in the world, set on a hill at the entrance to the town of Zărnești, Brașov County, at the foot of the Piatra Craiului Mountains. It covers around 69 hectares of oak forest and was created in memory of Maya, a bear rescued from a life of captivity. The sanctuary's foundations were laid in 2005, when the Millions of Friends Association — founded by Cristina and Roger Lapis — secured a 49-year concession of the land through a public-private partnership with the Zărnești Town Hall. World Animal Protection (formerly the World Society for the Protection of Animals) joined the effort through its "Save the Captive Bear" project. The sanctuary opened to the public in 2008. Today it is home to over 100 brown bears, most of them coming from captivity: cages near restaurants, hotels and petrol stations, from circuses, or even monasteries. Most of these animals can no longer adapt to life in the wild because of the dependence they developed while in captivity. The bears benefit from extensive space, a diet established by veterinarians and specialised care, in an environment with trees, streams and pools. The sanctuary is not a zoo but an animal-protection project funded entirely from private sources. Visits take place in guided groups, within limited time slots, to protect the bears' peace and welfare.