On Wednesday 11 June, 2025, the expert dental team from International Animal Rescue (IAR) traveled to Armenia to provide life-changing dental surgery for two rescued bears.
The bears, named Noah and Aram, were recently rescued from years of harrowing captivity where they suffered from biting metal cage bars and being fed unhealthy junk food. Working alongside the Foundation for the Preservation of Wildlife and Cultural Assets (FPWC), IAR brought in top veterinary dentists from the UK to treat the bears.
Upon their rescue, it was discovered that Noah and Aram had been living in deplorable conditions, with broken and decaying teeth and swollen and infected gums. This was a result of years spent gnawing on iron bars and being fed fizzy drinks, causing chronic pain and potential health complications.
The team of dental experts, consisting of Paul Cassar, IAR Trustee and dentist from Chichester, and Gerhard Putter, veterinary dental specialist based in Cambridge, have made numerous trips to IAR’s rescue centers to treat various wild animals such as lions, tigers, bears, and orangutans.
The surgeries, which took place last week, were urgent and intensive. Noah, who had already suffered for years, required a four-hour surgery to extract two teeth. It was discovered that his canine tooth had split and was infected, while a large incisor had severe decay and needed to be removed.
IAR President Alan Knight OBE, who was present during the surgery, expressed his admiration for the team’s work, saying, “Seeing the size of Noah’s rotten incisor, it’s heartbreaking to imagine the pain he must have been living in. No animal should have to endure this level of suffering. Our team did an extraordinary job, and I’m so proud of what they’ve achieved for these beautiful bears.”
Aram, a massive bear weighing 240kg, also underwent major dental work, including a root canal and two molar extractions during a four-hour surgery.
The day after the surgeries, both bears were reported to be recovering well and eating, a clear sign of relief from the chronic pain they had been living with.
While these surgeries mark a significant step in giving Noah and Aram a new life free from pain, their recovery, care, and future depend on ongoing support. To help provide the specialist care they and other rescued bears desperately need, please visit www.internationalanimalrescue.org to donate.
