When FOUR PAWS began its work in Albania in 2016, more than 30 bears were living a miserable existence cooped up in tiny cages next to restaurants or hotels where they were put on show to attract tourists. These inappropriate conditions were very stressful for the animals, both physically as mentally.

In March 2016, FOUR PAWS signed a declaration of intent with the Albanian Environment Ministry with the goal of finding a permanent solution in line with animal welfare standards for the many Albanian bears living in captivity in catastrophic conditions. As a result, between 2016 and 2022 and in cooperation with the Albanian authorities and other animal welfare organisations, more than 30 bears were rescued and transferred to wildlife rescue centres abroad. Eleven of these bears today live in FOUR PAWS bear sanctuaries and partner projects in Kosovo, Switzerland, Germany, Austria and Bulgaria.

In December 2022, FOUR PAWS rescued the last remaining restaurant bear named Mark who was kept in a tiny cage close to a restaurant in Tirana. The bear was kept there for more than 20 years. Exposed to the looks of visitors, not able to display any natural behaviour, he must have suffered terribly. Luckily, the bear has been handed over to FOUR PAWS voluntarily and was transferred to BEAR SANCTUARY Arbesbach in Austria where he arrived on 9^th December 2022. The rescue of the last so-called 'restaurant bear' Mark highlights a significant milestone in FOUR PAWS' work in Albania. With the rescue of Mark, the sad chapter of Albania's restaurant bears is over and the cruel practice of keeping bears next to restaurants for entertaining has ended. This is another major milestone for wild animal welfare in Southeast Europe! In 2013, FOUR PAWS ended already the keeping of restaurant bears in neighbouring Kosovo.

Still, the work of FOUR PAWS in Albania is not yet done, as there are reports about bears being found orphaned in the wild and ending up in illegal private keeping or being abused for other illicit activities every year. Also, in the past years there have been increasing reports about illegal keeping, breeding and trade of big cats in Albania and neighbouring countries. Therefore, FOUR PAWS will continue fighting for legislative improvements including a total ban on the private keeping of bears and big cats. Furthermore, FOUR PAWS calls upon the national authorities to finally establish a wild animal sanctuary on site in order to make law enforcement and the accommodation of seized and confiscated wild animals possible.