Napa the bear was born in a zoo, where he once had room to roam and the freedom to just be a bear. But his life took a heartbreaking turn when he was sold to the Corona Circus in Serbia and forced to live in a cramped, barren cage.
When Serbia finally banned the use of wild animals in circuses, it seemed like Napa might finally get a second chance. A rescue group stepped up to save him—but the journey to freedom was far from simple. What they faced next would test their resolve and reveal just how much Napa's rescue truly meant.
Napa Was Moved From Her Home In A Zoo
Meet Napa—a bear whose story begins with freedom but quickly turns into confinement. Born in a zoo, Napa once had the luxury of wide-open spaces to explore and enjoy. But that glimpse of a natural life didn't last long.
His circumstances changed, and soon he was trapped in a tiny cage, stripped of the space and freedom every wild creature deserves. What came next for Napa is a journey you won’t want to miss.
New Home At The Circus
As a young bear, Napa was sold to a Serbian circus called Corona. Instead of roaming freely, he was confined to a small cage and forced to perform for loud, crowded audiences.
He now spent his days performing in front of loud, bustling crowds, far from the peaceful life he once knew.
Serbia Banned Wild Animals In Circuses
No one truly knows what life was like for Napa in the circus. But in 2009, when Serbia banned wild animals in circuses, his fate took a strange turn — the circus didn't rehome him. They simply left him in his tiny cage.
Someone Was About To Step In
Napa likely thought his world would always be four walls and metal bars. But everything changed when a charity organization learned about his situation. Determined to help, they sprang into action to give Napa the second chance he so deeply deserved.
FOUR PAWS
The organization that stepped up to help Napa was FOUR PAWS, a global animal welfare group dedicated to creating lasting change for animals in distress.
But rescuing Napa wasn't as simple as opening a cage door. It would take careful planning, legal coordination, and the help of committed partners to finally set him free.
They Looked Into Legal Representation
The volunteers at FOUR PAWS looked into legal representation and even went to local officials, all of whom they thought could help them get Napa out of the inhumane conditions he found himself in at the circus.
It was going to be a long road, though, and they didn't know if anything they did was going to work against the circus.
2016: FOUR PAWS Got Napa Off The Circus Grounds
It took years but, finally, in October of 2016, FOUR PAWS and local officials managed to get Napa out of his cage on the Corona Circus grounds. There was more work that had to be done, though.
There was no long-term facility with a vacancy for Napa. So he went to a temporary location at the Palic Zoo in Serbia.
Two Years Later, A Permanent Facility
The zoo was Napa's home for two years. It wasn't until 2018 that FOUR PAWS managed to find a permanent facility for the bear, somewhere that would provide him with a natural habitat to roam.
Unfortunately, getting him there was easier said than done. Once again, FOUR PAWS had their work cut out for them.
Arosa Bear Foundation In Switzerland
The location was all the way in Switzerland, at the Arosa Bear Foundation. The foundation is a massive bear sanctuary, focusing on rehabilitating and releasing the bears into the "wild."
Of course, while a huge area, the "wild" is still enclosed, as the bears are unfit to travel back into actual nature.
Napa Was The Sanctuary's First Resident!
The Arosa Bear Foundation was a work in progress from 2010 up until 2018. Napa was going to be its first resident! Bringing him from Serbia to Switzerland wasn't going to be easy, though.
It was going to take some heavy medication to calm the scared little bear during the car ride.
The Trip: 28 Hours And 870 Miles
There was no way to get Napa on an airplane. So, after a veterinarian sedated him, Napa was transported in a van and then a cable car to the bear sanctuary.
In total, the trip took 28 hours and nearly 870 miles! That was a long way for a bear who has known nothing but captivity.
Still A Few Issues
During the trip, Napa got to experience air conditioning for the first time! He even had regularly scheduled vet appointments throughout the 28-hour journey.
But FOUR PAWS wasn't out of the woods just yet. There were still a few issues that needed to be solved before Napa could settle into his new home.
How To Lift A 1,200-Pound Crate
The biggest issue was how to move Napa's massive 1,200-pound crate from the bear ambulance van to the cable car which would bring him into the sanctuary.
While it was a puzzle, the people at FOUR PAWS figured it out, and Napa was on his way! According to Carsten Hertwig of FOUR PAWS, "Transporting [him] from the bear ambulance to the gondola was a logistical masterpiece. I am very happy that everything went so well."
July 2018: Napa Was Home
It was July 4, 2018, when Napa finally arrived at Arosa Bear Sanctuary. But the foundation wasn't able to release him into the enclosure just yet.
First, they placed Napa in an adaptation enclosure, something that would help him get used to his new surroundings and not become super overwhelmed.
Napa Was Being Spoiled (Rightfully So!)
While in his adaptation enclosure, Napa was treated better than he's been his entire life. He was showered with love and all the treats he could ever want, including meat, fruits, and vegetables.
Napa was also bathed for the first time in his life! It was a dream for the bear.
It Was Time For His Release
After some time, Napa was finally ready to be released into the main enclosure. Curious about everything, Napa looked around prior to his release, looking at the sprawling land and the Arosa Mountains in the distance.
He was about to explore a brand new world just waiting for him beyond his adaption enclosure.
Napa Found A Love Of Swimming
Napa's new home provided him with over an acre of land, sprawling hills, ponds for swimming, and a whole lot of trees. It was unlike anything Napa had lived in before.
The little bear finally had somewhere actually to be a bear and stretch his legs and explore. As it turned out, Napa was a huge fan of the ponds, finding a new love of swimming!
The Sanctuary Officially Opened In August 2018
While Napa was already there, the Arosa Bear Sanctuary didn't officially open its doors until August of 2018, a month after Napa arrived. Now, they were ready to rescue more bears and give them a second chance at life.
The site contains three species-appropriate enclosures that can hold up to five bears!
Their Doors Opened To More Bears
The sanctuary has opened its doors to many bears throughout the years. It is even open to the public, offering tours and educating people on the bears and their stories.
Napa couldn't be more thrilled about his new life in the sanctuary; getting out of the circus was the best thing that ever happened to him.
Napa Was Thriving
While Napa never made it to the actual wild, he thrived at the sanctuary. He made a quick transition from a scared bear, unsure of himself and others, to a playful bear who loved to roam the enclosure and go swimming.
Arosa Bear Sanctuary is doing marvelous work and continues to welcome bears into their facility.