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Home Personal giving Case studies One Bear's journey from captivity to a new beginning 
30 April 2026

One bear's journey from captivity to a new beginning

Charities Aid Foundation Charities Aid Foundation Personal giving

Every CAF story starts somewhere.

A CAF American Donor Fund (CADF) donor supported FOUR PAWS’ animal welfare work, with a £40,000 donation, to fund a new life for a former captive bear with severe health needs.

Despite their size and roaming needs, bears in the wild have scarce space in which to survive. The brown bear lives in only a few protected areas in Europe. In captivity, they suffer under poor living conditions, unable to act out their natural instincts such as roaming for food and hibernating.

Global animal welfare organisation FOUR PAWS is dedicated to addressing this. They work to improve the lives of animals living under direct human influence around the world.

When they launched a public fundraising campaign, a CAF American Donor Fund donor was in a strong position to respond, donating tax efficiently from their Donor Advised Fund.

The cause


Dunbar the bear was first spotted wandering disoriented and weak through a village in Azerbaijan in 2020. Likely escaped or released from private captivity, he was then brought to a state-run rescue centre.

FOUR PAWS vets first met Dunbar in 2023 while treating captive bears in Azerbaijan. He showed signs of severe distress – pacing, vocalising, anxiety and aggression. He also had advanced cataracts and inflammation in his right eye, a corneal injury in his left eye, and several broken canine teeth.

During two long surgeries, the vets removed his damaged eye and teeth, giving him noticeable relief. But his compromised vision and acute needs mean specialist medical care for the rest of this life. His continued vocalising also suggested he was still stressed. Due to his low vision, he may have felt threatened by other bears in nearby enclosures. It was clear that Dunbar needed a fresh start for the rest and care he requires. He needed relocating to a sanctuary. 

Our support


When our donor expressed an interest in supporting FOUR PAWS' work with Azerbaijani bears, help to upgrade their bear sanctuary was identified as most pressing.

By donating through the CAF American Donor Fund, the donor was able to maximise their donation, receiving tax deductions in both the US and UK, as a dual taxpayer.

The donation also benefitted from our robust due diligence process. Despite FOUR PAWS being a UK registered charity, with the funds due to be used in a higher-risk region, we applied additional scrutiny, working closely with the charity, to make sure the donation reached its intended cause safely and securely.

As a result, in preparation for Dunbar’s arrival, as well as that of other captive bears in need, FOUR PAWS expanded and upgraded Bear Sanctuary Arbesbach in Austria, a specialist facility for elderly bears and bears with complex needs.

Each new enclosure now has an area that offers soft bedding, natural terrain and indoor-outdoor access to help them acclimatise gently to their new surroundings.

These improvements are part of a broader sanctuary expansion, adding over 8,000 square metres for the bears to roam. It also now has specialised dens, a state-of-the-art veterinary treatment room, and upgraded facilities for food preparation and animal care. The upgrades do not just provide shelter, but are also restoring the bears’ wellbeing. 

The impact


Dunbar’s relocation to Bear Sanctuary Arbesbach was a carefully coordinated international effort. FOUR PAWS worked closely with Azerbaijan’s Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources and other stakeholders. After extensive planning and collaboration, including rabies testing, permits, customised sedation protocols and travel logistics, final clearance for relocating Dunbar came in May 2025.

In July, Dunbar began his 30 hour, 5,000 kilometre journey by plane and road to Austria.

Upon arrival, he was calm and curious exploring his new surroundings. He enjoyed some snacks and dug a cosy pit to rest in, surrounded by the peaceful sounds of nature. He is now settling in to his new life with the space, care and patience he needs, safe in his forever home. 

Watch Dunbar’s journey to Austria:


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