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[Ingrid]: At a bear park in Cherokee, North Carolina, 11 bears were kept in desolate,
concrete pits for years. Deprived of any resemblance of a natural life with little to do but look
up and beg for stale bread, these frustrated animals turned endlessly in circles, a sign
of profound deprivation and stress. They also gnawed on the metal bars of the pits, breaking
their own teeth, which is extremely painful and can cause bone infections. After years
of effort on the part of many kind people, including one extraordinarily compassionate
soul; as well as a PETA undercover investigation that finally resulted in action by the US
Department of Agriculture (USDA), the bears were rescued and transported to the International
Exotic Animal Sanctuary. Once treated like living museum pieces, kept only for profit,
the bears have gone from cement walls, a cement floor, and a diet of stale bread and dog kibble,
to acres of land with grass and trees, fresh fruits and vegetables, a swimming hole, and
expert health care. PETA would like to thank everyone who played a role, especially an anonymous
and exceptionally kind person.