After living in a cage for six years, the animal can now relax in a wildlife sanctuary

Aug 28, 2012 13:57 GMT  ·  By

After spending six years of its life in a cage and sleeping on nothing but concrete, a bear named Ben finally got the chance to escape abuses and was taken to a wildlife sanctuary in California.

Its being rescued from the awful conditions in which it was living comes as a result of a lawsuit filed by PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals), ALDF (Animal Legal Defense Fund) and North Carolina's local counsel soon after several citizens voiced their complaints and concerns with respect to how this bear was constantly abused at the Jambbas Ranch Tours roadside zoo.

Once the judge appointed to deal with this case agreed that said zoo failed in providing Ben with the conditions it needed to live comfortably, it was decided that the animal had to immediately be taken into custody by conservationists and animal rights activists, and that a new home must be found for it as soon as possible.

As PETA reports, this court ruling led to the bear's being flown all across the country with the help of FedEx Express. Thus, Ben is now living rather comfortably at a wildlife sanctuary in California, where it can spend its time getting acquainted with trees and exploring its new enclosure.

Jeffrey S. Kerr from the aforementioned organization explained how, “Despite years of neglect and abuse, Ben has already started to thrive in his new home—proof of the good that sanctuaries such as ARK 2000 can accomplish.”

Backing up his statements, ALDF's Executive Director pointed out that, “Ben's treatment was cruel and illegal under North Carolina law, and the court stopped it, plain and simple. We couldn't be happier to see Ben retiring to California.”

Hopefully, the six years Ben spent locked up in its incredibly small-sized cage did not affect its psychological wellbeing.

Truth be told, judging by its behavior ever since it reached the Californian wildlife sanctuary, it is quite content with its new surroundings and will grow accustomed with its new home sooner than one might expect.

Down below you have a video explaining what Ben had been going through all these years and how it was finally rescued.