Potap was the first bear who was rescued to BEAR SANCTUARY Domazhyr. 

Potap, was born in a zoo in Ukraine in 2008. After Potap was sold. The ceiling was so low that he could hardly stand upright. It was positioned near a restaurant in order to 'attract' visitors. The cage where Potap had to suffer for all these years was no bigger than 3m wide and 1.5m long, and with these conditions, when Potap was fully grown, he could barely stand upright. As the business didn't go as the owner planned, and the restaurant was closed, Potap was left in the fate of local activists, who provided food for him as a temporary solution.  He eventually found a life-long home at our sanctuary.  

Now, Potap is a very positive and friendly bear. He likes to play, swim, and solve various tasks.

After so many years of life in misery,  Potap is finally living an appropriate life for his species, at his forever home in Domazhyr.  Potap was incredibly relaxed and carefully explored each corner of his new surroundings. Today, he enjoys the variety of fruit offered to him, especially the melon and oranges, and he goes especially crazy for fish!

He is currently housed with bear Masha.