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	ADOPT A BEAR Mitsos arrived at the centre in 1993 when he was eight years old as one of the original 13 brown bears now cared for by ARCTUROS. With nowhere else to house him after his confiscation, Mitsos was first sent to the nearby Florina Zoo, but Arcturos soon heard of his plight and offered him a safe haven. Mitsos was in a desperate state when he arrived at ARCTUROS and had to undergo several operations for his extensive dental problems, including severely damaged teeth. Staff worked tirelessly to coax him back to health after years of habitual torture. Now a strong, impressive bear with a healthy coat Mitsos spends his days roaming through his natural woodland home, safe and in the company of four other bears, including Kyriakos. . Dancing bears are routinely ill-treated, malnourished and neglected – all in the name of so-called entertainment. The ARCTUROS sanctuary established in northern Greece provides a safe haven for confiscated bears that would otherwise have to remain with their abusive keepers. Mitsos and Koukla are two European brown bears rescued from just such a pitiful existence in 1992 when they were both seven years of age. The traditional training forced on bears like Mitsos is intensely brutal. Forced to stand on hot metal plates, the bears instinctively stand on their hind feet and shuffle back and forth in a peculiar swaying motion, desperate to reduce the severe pain in their feet. The animals learn to associate the accompanying music with this ordeal and eventually perform these movements to the music automatically, creating the cruel impression of dancing. In order to control the bears, their noses and lips are pierced to insert a metal ring linked to a chain. Obedience is obtained using a sharp jerk, and the bears’ teeth are shattered to prevent them defending themselves. Mitsos was taken from his mother as a very young cub and has been subjected to severe mouth and nose injuries. He can therefore never return to the wild. Funds raised through this adoption programme will primarily be used to care for Mitsos in a beautiful wooded five hectare sanctuary, as well as to protect bears in the wild. For just £24.95 you can adopt a bear for one year Brown Bear Adoptions - £24.95 Adopt a bear for one year and you will receive: A personalised adoption certificate with a picture of Mitsos An exclusive Care for the Wild International teddy bear A bear fact sheet, packed with information A CWI window sticker An update on your bear's progress after six months of adoption Worldwide Delivery CURRENCY CONVERTOR For a guide price in other currencies Care for the Wild International (Registered Charity No. 288802) Care for the Wild International (CWI) is an animal welfare and conservation charity that funds practical projects . We make areas safe from poachers, rehabilitate sick or injured animals and provide sanctuary for those who cannot return to the wild. We also act as a global voice for wildlife through research, education and advocacy. ©Copyright ADOPTION.CO.UK 2007. All rights reserved.