Please Note: The park is closed for visitors while the bears take there winter hibernation. The Bear Park will reopen on April 1, 2024.
Belitsa Bear Sanctuary
The Bear Sanctuary at Belitsa (former known as The Dancing Bears Park) is now home for twenty former dancing bears who now live in an area of 120,000 square meters, they live in natural conditions that help them learn to gradually adjust back to normal life.
The park is divided into seven sectors, this allows the bears to live in friendly groups which prevents possible confrontations and stimulates their natural recovery. The park provides ideal living conditions for bears and the environment is as close as possible to their natural habitat. Almost all the dancing bears are sleeping naturally, many of them dig themselves into the rush.
"The return of bears to their natural instincts and behavior is stimulated in every respect. For example, the nutrition procedure resembles that of the everyday life of animals in nature: a professionally trained crew of crews scatters food across sectors so that the bears have to spend some time finding it." Four Paws
As late as the late 1990's the existence of dancing bears could be seen on the Black Sea resorts and also in the larger Bulgarian cities.
In the year 2000 the first three bears were saved: Kalina, Mariana and Stefan, followed shortly afterwards by more. By 2007 the last three dancing bears in Bulgaria were housed in the Dancing Bears Park, now named Mima, Misho and Svetla. By 2009 the last three Dancing bears from Serbia were also saved and now live in the park. The park now shelters all living ex-dancing bears from Bulgaria and Serbia.
On the site there are two information centres, one of which can be used for lectures and discussions and an established medical centre which allows for even the most sophisticated veterinary procedures.
The Park offers the bears dense forests and hills so they can roam freely and in solitude. There are also meadows and specially designed sunbathing areas with swimming ponds and artificial areas for those animals that fail to dig their own nest.
It is now illegal in Bulgaria to be in the possession of a dancing bear.
The sanctuary is operated by Four Paws and there dedicated and trained staff.
free wireless internet connection.
Opening Hours:
April - June: 12:00 - 18:00.
July August: 10:00 - 12:00 & 13:00 - 18:00
September - November: 12:00 - 18:00.
Guided tours every half hour.
Address:
Dancing bears park - Belitsa, "Andrianov Chark" area, Belitsa, Blagoevgrad region, Bulgaria.
Tel .: +359 887 866 189 Fax: +359 2 952 11 98 Email: office@vier-pfoten.bg
A guided tour is available to visit the bear park, for more information please click here.
Bear park trip from Bansko
Don't miss the opportunity to see the inhabitants of the Bear Park, travelling by car or the narrow gauge railway from Bansko. The well known Bear Park in Belitsa is a new home for the rescued bears that were kept in captivity for entertainment or in adverse conditions. At the moment, the park hosts 18 bears who recuperate and readapt to live in their natural environment.
For this purpose, the park was built in a conifer forest with broad territory and small lakes for bathing, also the artificial dens were made for the bears to sleep. You will be able to walk in the park to see the bears and listen to the stories about them from a guide. You will also be able to see the park from above ascending to an observational point, watch a documentary about the park and its inhabitants and buy souvenirs.
Included: transport (train ticket), guide and entrance fee.
Price: 45 Euros