Sugar Bear's story is one of resilience and compassion. Originally bred to be sold to a canned hunt ranch, or what is sometimes called a "game park," his fate took an unexpected turn. An unaccredited sanctuary owner, who was not affiliated with the canned-hunt ranch, discovered Sugar Bear and was captivated by his sweet personality. She effectively 'kidnapped' Sugar Bear to save him from that fate and then transferred to her unaccredited sanctuary in Ohio.
In Ohio, Sugar Bear's life was confined to a small corn crib cage with unforgiving concrete floors. This harsh existence continued until the sanctuary eventually closed its doors due to financial constraints. When the sanctuary closed, the owner was forced to surrender all the animals, including Sugar Bear.
Sugar Bear's rescue became part of a massive rescue and relocation initiative led by Lions Tigers & Bears1"' (LTB). This operation aimed to save all 32 animals from the former facility, ensuring their relocation to reputable sanctuaries across the United States.
Sugar Bear's transition to LTB was not without challenges. Having spent his life in the confines of a small cage, he was initially hesitant to venture out into his new surroundings. He had to adjust slowly to the concept of sun, dirt, open space, and the company of other bears. To help him make this transition, food trails were ingeniously used to coax him into the bear habitat.
Today, Sugar Bear has fully integrated into his black bear family at Lions Tigers & Bears. He has embraced life at the sanctuary and is a testament to the power of compassion, resilience, and the positive impact of our sanctuary's care.
