Bears find new home after traveling act
Five American black bears, formerly known as stars in a traveling bear act, have found a new home in a non-profit animal sanctuary located in northwestern Arizona.
Keepers of the Wild Nature Park, located in Valentine, a small community along Route 66 east of Kingman, will house the five bears in a newly restored habitat, according to park officials.
After 41 years in the traveling entertainment industry, “The Great Bear Show,” ended business after owner Bob Steele chose to retire. Based in Jefferson, Texas, Steele and his bears traveled across the United States to perform in fairs and events in states as far as Michigan, Washington and New Jersey.
According to a press release put out by the show’s owner, health-related issues were a factor in his retirement and Steele updated the show’s website in late April to announce the end of The Great Bear Show.
“After 41 years of service and education, we have decided to retire,” reads the website statement.
Linda Khachatoorian, education program coordinator for Keepers of the Wild, said Steele transferred the five bears over to the sanctuary and the group arrived in early May.
Steele had been in contact with the sanctuary and was interested in Keepers of the Wild specifically to be the bears’ future home, she said.
The animal-rights group PETA helped with financial contributions in order to assist in the construction of a swimming pool and shade platforms in the bears’ sanctuary.
PETA for years had been critical of the show and what the group alleged was mistreatment of bears and advocated for their release.
The group often would raise the
concerns ahead of the show’s appearance at county or state fairs around the country. The organization regularly raised concerns over citations issued by the U.S. Department of Agriculture over issues pertaining to the handling of the bears, including during photo opportunities with the public.
Steel on his website stated that the organization was making false claims and that the show had ”always treated and respected (our) animals as friends.” He added show had never been cited by the USDA “as they (PETA) wish you to believe.”
The five bears, Andi, Cindi, Brock, Bucky and Barney, now are spending their days swimming in pools, lounging in their dens and catching naps.
The bears are undergoing a rehabilitation process that focuses on various enrichment activities and nutritious diets, Khachatoorian said. She added the organization estimates caring for the bears is estimated to cost about $70,000 a year.
“This has been a long time coming. We have been working for the past three months retrofitting a former tiger habitat to accommodate the five bears,” Jonathan Kraft, founder and executive director of Keepers of the Wild said in a statement.