Free Baloo the bear who is poked with sticks and plied with booze for laughs

Animal lovers are demanding the release of brown bear Baloo who is poked with sticks and forced to drink alcohol for tourists’ amusement.

The proud beast has become a sad, forlorn figure of fun for ghouls who visit the ski resort where he is kept in squalid solitary confinement.

Baloo, who has been caged in his mountaintop prison for 23 years after being found injured as a cub in 2005, is regularly taunted by kids jabbing him with sticks.

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He lives off a meagre diet of cereal and is given fizzy pop and even booze so twisted onlookers can watch the great bear stagger around drunk.

World Animal Protection, which has launched a petition for his release, said: “In a ski resort in Romania, Baloo the bear has been locked up in a cage under horrific conditions for 23 years.

“Baloo was found injured as a cub in the Romanian forests before Rangers took him in for treatment.

“He then came into private ownership at the ski resort where he still sits today – 23 long years later.”

The charity added: “Since 2005, the Romanian government has banned private individuals from keeping bears, but the law is poorly enforced.”

WAP wild animals campaign manager Sanne Kuijpers said: “The conditions in which Baloo now lives are degrading to animals.

“The bear gets cereal, lemonade and even alcohol.

“He’s been in solitary confinement for nearly a quarter of a century and kids are jabbing him through the bars with sticks.

“The bear is visibly traumatised.”

Sanne added: “This is no life for a bear.

“That’s why we draw international attention to Baloo’s fate and hope that he can be freed soon.”

It is hoped Baloo can be freed from the resort and rehomed at the Eastern European country’s Libearty Bear Sanctuary.

To support the campaign to free Baloo, click here.

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