Cholita the ‘real-life Paddington bear’ who was abused at the circus and captured the world’s hearts, has taken her first steps to freedom with Animal Defenders International (ADI).
The hairless bear was signed into the organization’s custody and rescued in a two day mission. 25 year-old Cholita is now safe in the ADI ‘Spirit of Freedom’ rescue center in Peru where, for the first time in her life, she is nesting in straw, enjoying a natural diet including her favorite grapes, playing in her bath while being closely monitored to establish her level of health ahead of her flight to the United States where she will enjoy a new life along with 34 big cats who have been rescued from circuses across Peru and Colombia by ADI.
Cholita is an endangered Spectacled bear who was kept illegally by a circus. The scars of her abusive past are clear to see – her fingers were brutally cut down to stumps to remove her front claws and her teeth were broken, leaving her defenseless. The stress of her living conditions has also left Cholita suffering from severe hair loss – where she should have thick, black fur she has none, leaving her almost completely bald.
ADI President Jan Creamer said, “Cholita has taken her first steps to freedom and is clearly enjoying herself at the ADI rescue center, making cozy deep straw nests and eating her favorite foods, especially grapes. She is elderly and quite frail so we are keeping her under close observation to monitor her health. With the public’s continuing and heartfelt response we can give this sweet bear the brighter future she deserves.”
Please donate to help get Cholita and the other animals saved during Operation Spirit of Freedom to their forever homes: www.ad-international.org/CholitaAppealUS or 323-935-2234.
