Bear Locked In Tiny Cage For 17 Years Feels the Taste of Freedom for the First Time in His Life

Imagine how awful living in a cage your whole life would be. Being held captive and missing out on all life has to offer, even the day to day things we take for granted, would be awful. For Kai and the other Ussuri brown bears, that became their life.

At the age of a cub, somebody snatched Kai from his mom and put him in a cage not much larger than him. For 17 years, all he knew was that cage.

Kai became one of four ‘living exhibits’ at the Ainu Culture Museum on a Japanese Island. Him, 27-year-old female Hanako, male Amu, and his brother Riku all lived in separate cages.

Many years before, they sacrificed bear cubs. No longer sacrificing, the bears get locked up in a cage.

Thankfully, some tourists saw the awful living conditions. They called Wild Welfare, a UK charity, for help.

Because nowhere in Japan would accept the bears, Wild Welfare called Yorkshire Wildlife Park in England. Luckily, they said ‘yes.’

The bears flew nearly 6,000 miles to their new life in the UK. Still, they had no idea what a surprise they had coming.

Now, they have four acres of land to explore. Along with climbing frames, a lake, and a straw bed, the bears now have all the food they need.

Take a look at the moment when Kai realized his freedom:

After he saw his new home, he ran right into the lake.

This must have been the best day of his life!

Stephanie Church
Stephanie Church
Stephanie Church’s been a freelance writer for 10 years covering everything from true crime and reality TV to celebrity and lifestyle content.

More from author

Related posts

Latest posts

Over 60 killed after fire rips through newly opened mall in Iraq following AC explosion

A devastating fire tore through a newly opened mall, the Corniche Hypermarket Mall, in Kut, eastern Iraq, claiming the lives of at least 61...

Entitled passenger snatched my in-flight meal — but karma served the real dish

What started as a routine cross-country flight quickly turned frustrating for a woman who happened to be seated next to an entitled passenger. The man...

Kate Middleton makes rare comment about Prince Louis

Kate Middleton received a standing ovation when she appeared at the Wimbledon tennis finals last weekend. Her presence at this event has always been embraced...

Our gender reveal cake was gray — then our daughter shared a surprising truth

When my husband and I married, we knew we wanted children. We already had a girl, Maddison, from his first marriage that I got...

Truth behind viral statement after married CEO caught with employee on Coldplay kiss cam

During Coldplay's recent Boston concert, frontman Chris Martin sparkled a viral moment when the 'kiss cam' revealed what many believe is an ongoing affair....

The dog that woke his master

The prognosis for Officer Rami, who was severely injured during a mission, was bleak. After weeks in the hospital, doctors decided to take him...