International Animal Rescue (IAR) has launched a two-week emergency fundraising campaign to raise £50,000 / $67,500 for the rescue and lifelong care of Beau, a brown bear who has endured almost a decade of unimaginable cruelty.
The Beau’s Lifeline Appeal, announced on Tuesday 26 August, 2025, aims to cover the costs of Beau’s urgent medical treatment, food, enrichment, and rehabilitation. For nine years, Beau was confined to a barren cage at a spa resort in Armenia, surrounded by the forest that should have been his home.
Despite repeated attempts by IAR and its partners, the resort owner refused to release Beau – until now. In a sudden turn of events, Beau has finally been handed over to rescuers from the Foundation for the Preservation of Wildlife and Cultural Assets (FPWC). It is unclear why he has been released after so many years of exploitation, but his captors no longer see a use for him.
When the rescuers arrived to move Beau, they found him in a deplorable condition. His fur was matted with filth, his body weak from years on cold concrete, and his spirit scarred by profound neglect. He is now safe at FPWC’s rescue centre, but he will require urgent veterinary assessments and possible MRI scans to determine the full extent of his injuries and trauma.
Alan Knight OBE, CEO of International Animal Rescue, expressed relief and urgency upon Beau’s release, saying, “Beau has spent almost a decade locked in misery, used as a living prop for tourists. To see him finally free from that cage is a moment of relief – but also of urgency. He has lost nine years of his life, and now he needs us more than ever. With the support of our donors, we can give Beau the medical care and the future he deserves.”
The Beau’s Lifeline Appeal will run from 25th August to 8th September and is calling on the public to help raise the funds needed for Beau’s rehabilitation. Donations will provide medical treatment, nutritious food to restore his strength, enrichment and rehabilitation to ease his psychological trauma, and lifelong care in a safe, natural sanctuary environment.
Beau’s story is unfortunately not unique. Bears in Armenia and beyond continue to be exploited for profit, used as tourist attractions, and kept in cages for entertainment. IAR is determined to break this cycle of cruelty, but they cannot do it without urgent public support.
To donate and help rewrite Beau’s future, visit www.internationalanimalrescue.org/appeal/beaus-lifeline.
Derick is an experienced reporter having held multiple senior roles for large publishers across Europe. Specialist subjects include small business and financial emerging markets.