Before 2007, Svetla and Mima, like many other bears, were forced to perform for tourists, dancing to earn a living for their Roma owners. When not performing, they were confined to chains in the backyard, living in constant distress. They displayed signs of deep psychological trauma, endlessly swaying their heads and pawing at the ground. Their diet, consisting mainly of sugar, alcohol, and sweet drinks, contributed to their physical decline, with broken and decayed teeth from gnawing at their chains.
The family that owned them had been training bears for generations, starting with their great-grandfather, who began at the age of 12, conditioning them for tourist entertainment. They would even present a young child next to the bear, falsely claiming how gentle and friendly the animals were. But behind this facade was a cruel truth: Svetla and Mima had been taken from zoos as cubs and subjected to agonizing training, forced to stand on hot metal plates while music played, conditioning them to associate the music with pain and respond by dancing. They were also subjected to painful claw trimming, which is said to be as excruciating as cutting off human fingers.
Although attempts to end this cruelty began in 1993, Bulgaria lacked the facilities to house the bears, and law enforcement was lax, allowing Roma families to continue keeping the bears under a license until a sanctuary was found. This meant the bears endured years more of suffering. It wasn’t until 1998 that Bulgaria outlawed bear training and dancing.
In 2000, with the help of FOUR PAWS and FONDATION BRIGITTE BARDOT, the BEAR SANCTUARY Belitsa opened in the Bulgarian mountains, providing a safe haven for these mistreated bears. It wasn’t until 2007 that the last three “dancing bears” — Svetla, Mima, and Mischo — were rescued from their owners in the village of Getsovo. Since then, Bulgaria has banned all private ownership of bears, ensuring that no bear will ever again be subjected to this cruelty.
Today, Svetla, born in 1990, thrives in her sanctuary home. She enjoys her days resting in a favorite, secluded spot within the forest. Though she prefers the peaceful solitude of the woods, some visitors may catch a glimpse of her during their tour. Mima, born in 1997, is much more active, often seen roaming and foraging with her companion Monti, especially in the cooler hours of the afternoon. During the hot summer months, like her fellow bears, Mima enjoys napping in the shade. Most of their days are spent exploring the sanctuary, living a life free from chains and the pain of their past.