International Animal Rescue (IAR) has announced the launch of the Beau’s Lifeline Appeal, a two-week emergency fundraising campaign aimed at raising £50,000 / $67,500. The funds will cover the rescue, medical treatment, food, enrichment, and lifelong care of Beau, a brown bear who has been subjected to nearly a decade of unimaginable cruelty.
For nine years, Beau was confined to a barren cage at a spa resort in Armenia. Despite being surrounded by the forest that should have been his home, he was never allowed to experience the freedom of it. Instead, he was used as entertainment for visitors who would taunt him and take selfies with him.
Despite multiple attempts by IAR and its partners, the owner of the resort refused to release Beau – until now. Suddenly, Beau has been handed over, most likely due to no longer being deemed profitable. After years of exploitation, his captors have abandoned him. However, his ordeal is far from over.
When rescuers from the Foundation for the Preservation of Wildlife and Cultural Assets (FPWC) arrived to move him, they found Beau in appalling condition. His fur was matted with filth, his body weak from years on cold concrete, and his spirit scarred by neglect. He is now safe at FPWC’s rescue center, but his injuries and trauma require urgent veterinary assessments and possible MRI scans.
Alan Knight OBE, CEO of International Animal Rescue, stated, “Beau has spent nearly a decade in misery, used as a prop for tourists. His release from the cage is a moment of relief, but also of urgency. He has lost nine years of his life, and now he needs us more than ever. With the support of our donors, we can provide Beau with the medical care and future he deserves.”
The Beau’s Lifeline Appeal will run from August 25th to September 8th, with the goal of raising funds for Beau’s rehabilitation. Donations will cover his medical treatment, including scans and specialist tests, as well as nutritious food to restore his strength, enrichment and rehabilitation to ease his psychological trauma, and lifelong care in a safe and natural sanctuary environment.
Beau’s story is not an isolated incident. Across Armenia and beyond, bears continue to be exploited for profit, used as tourist attractions, and kept in cages for entertainment. International Animal Rescue is committed to ending this cycle of cruelty, but they cannot do it without urgent public support.
To donate and help rewrite Beau’s future, visit www.internationalanimalrescue.org/appeal/beaus-lifeline.
