Cherokee Tribal Elders Will Sue if Bears Not Released

The four grizzly bears imprisoned in barren concrete
pits at the notorious Cherokee
Bear Zoo (CBZ) have gained two very influential—and compassionate—friends.
According to news reports, two tribal elders of the Eastern Band of Cherokee
Indians, Amy Walker and Peggy Hill, put the longstanding PETA target on notice
by announcing their intent to file suit under the Endangered Species Act in behalf
of the grizzlies, who
are enduring extreme deprivation on Cherokee land.

These bears can’t see over the concrete walls of their
pit, let alone spend 18 hours a day foraging for food and digging in the soft
earth, brush, and leaves, as they would in their natural habitat. Instead, they’re
forced to stand on hard concrete, which can seriously injure their feet and
cause skeletal problems. Visitors can buy kibble to throw at the bears, who
spend their days begging for morsels of food. Mindlessly circling their prison,
the animals are unable to take cover from storms and are forced to drink the
dirty water that they also use for bathing.

Walker says it best: “The Cherokee Bear Zoo is an open concrete grave for these
intelligent animals and they must be move[d] from the despicable facility to a
place where they’ll [be] cared for, not abused and neglected.”

PETA has advocated for these bears for years, and we
will continue to do so until the CBZ is forced to release them to a sanctuary, just
as another PETA-exposed Cherokee facility, Chief Saunooke Bear Park, did.

What You Can Do

Politely urge the owners of Cherokee Bear Zoo to release the bears to a reputable sanctuary.