Flora is a young female brown bear born in 2023 in Albania.  It is unclear how she ended up in private captivity. Flora is likely a victim of poaching, having been taken from her mother as a cub in the wild, although there is no definitive evidence regarding her origin.

Due to the uncertainty of her background and the inadequate conditions for keeping wild animals, the national authorities confiscated Flora from a private estate located in a town in the North of Albania. On the property, Flora shared companionship with a lion named Erion, though they lived in separate enclosures.

During her time in captivity, Flora was kept in a relatively small enclosure. Her living space consisted of a covered enclosure measuring approximately 200 square meters.

The keeping conditions for the animals were quite poor, with no enrichment, limited opportunities for hiding or retreat, and restricted space to roam. We assume the lion was acquired as a status symbol, while the bear was obtained without any specific purpose.

FOUR PAWS has been aware of the lion's existence for a few years due to posts published by the owner on his private social media channels. After discovering the posts, FOUR PAWS informed the Albanian authorities and offered to help with the transfer to a sanctuary. Unfortunately, no action was taken at that time. This situation arose due to an incomplete legislative framework and a lack of control, law enforcement, and criminal prosecution by local authorities. Additionally, the division of responsibilities among various local agencies is often unclear.

Recently, the owner of the animals reached out to FOUR PAWS and requested help. In response, FOUR PAWS notified the local authorities about this request, which led to the confiscation of the animals in preparation for their rescue and transport abroad.

The existence of the bear, Flora, was only discovered during the first visit to the premises in April 2025.