Last circus bear’s journey to his new home.

The Last Serbian Circus Bear Retires to his Beautiful New Home

Many dangers for animals are caused by humans. Some even did not have a chance to live freely in the wild.

A bear named Napa has never known a life without a cage. 

New home for the last circus bear from Serbia.

Napa was born in a zoo and then given to a circus in Serbia, where he was forced to perform tricks to give entertainment to audiences. 

Serbia banned the use of wild animals in circuses in 2009. Since then, Napa has been transferred to a zoo but sadly in a hard concrete enclosure.

Napa didn't have a chance to actually know the wild forest, the smell of fresh grass and flowers, soak in sunlight, hunt for food and run freely. 

Napa in Serbia zoo.

In a way, it didn't matter whether he knew what he was missing or not — because people from Four Paws International were determined to give him a life appropriate that was meant for a beautiful bear like him.

Early in July, rescuers arrived at Napa's dismal enclosure in Serbia and had to tranquilize him for the journey of his life.

Napa’s 28-hour journey.

Napa was accompanied by rescuers and made the plan to transport the 1,200-pound crate containing the rescued bear to his new residence on a hill. 

The journey was roughly 900 miles. They traveled a total of 28 hours both by car and by suspended cable car — like a ski lift — over a lush valley in Switzerland.

Napa’s temporary enclosure in Switzerland.

Napa arrived at his new home, Arosa Bear Sanctuary, a brand-new sanctuary run in part by Four Paws. He was put into an enclosure where he could see his new environment without being overwhelmed by the change since he'd never been in such a sprawling space in all his life. 

Napa was given treats to make him feel calm, safe and loved. He was also given a refreshing shower with a hose, which he seemed to thoroughly enjoy. 

Once Napa seemed to have acclimated to all the recent changes in his life, rescuers decided to let Napa see just how beautiful his new home was. 

Napa is happy with his new home.

"The door opens and Napa puts his paws on the grass," Four Paws wrote on Facebook. "It was a big day for the first resident of Arosa Bear Sanctuary. Napa was released into his beautiful outdoor enclosure with an amazing view over the Swiss mountains."

Seeing the last circus bear from Serbia finally enjoying such a landscape, it's unmistakable: Napa is finally home. 

Napa’s view - Swiss Alps

Now, Napa has an appropriate home for a captive-bred bear where he can run, climb and even swim all under breathtaking views of the Swiss Alps.

“Bears find themselves at the spot where two deep-seated but contradictory human impulses collide: the desire to feel protected from unforeseeable danger and the longing for unspoiled nature.”

- Bernd Brunner