ADI Cholita spent a life time of pain in this cage

These heartwarming scenes show the touching moments Cholita, bald and mutilated after her tragic life of captivity, finally returns to her native forest haunts. Animal Defenders International released uplifting footage to show how Cholita, a South American spectacled bear, put the horrors of being a circus plaything behind her after being nursed back to health and given a new life in the forests of Peru. As she strolls around her new leafy domain, breathing fresh air and eating her favourite fruits, Cholita’s life could not be more different from the one she has endured for the past 20 years.

ADI She had a long journey before she could enjoy her new home

Snatched from the wild as a baby, she spent years cooped in a tiny cage and subjected to her appalling horrors. Her paws were mutilated to remove the sharp claws and then her teeth smashed so she could not bite her owners. The stress and anguish caused Cholita’s thick, black fur to fall out, leaving her a bald and sorrowful sight destined to end her days in abject misery.

Many have been moved to tears by Cholita’s mutilated paws and hairless body – a cruel reminder of her abusive past in the circus Animal Defenders International President Jan Creamer

Yet even when the Peruvian authorities rescued her from the circus, there was no happy end in sight. No permanent home could be found and she spent ten years in a zoo. Thankfully, Animal Defenders International heard of Cholita’s plight and vowed to save her. They brought her back to their Operation Spirit of Freedom rescue centre and began the healing process. Her painful paws and breathing problems were treated with round the clock care and she was given natural diet. Veterinary care, a therapeutic pool and toys helped to invigorate and enhance her life. Now, after a military-style operation, she has been taken by boat and road to her purpose built permanent home complete with its bathing pool and cave at the Taricaya Ecological Reserve in the Amazon cloud forest.

ADI Cholita's new surroundings are a hundred times better than where she was before

This is the lush, natural wilderness where spectacled bears, the species that inspired Michael Bond to write his children’s classics, can be still be found although their conservation status is today classed as vulnerable. Cholita’s three-day journey “home” saw her travelling in a specially adapted lorry fitted with deep straw, warm blankets and an oxygen tent. She finally arrived back in the forest by boat with other rescued animals, including a puma, macaw and some monkeys. Animal Defenders International President Jan Creamer said: “It is an absolute joy to see Cholita explore and enjoy her new home, and the sights and sounds of the forest from which she was stolen as a baby. “Many have been moved to tears by Cholita’s mutilated paws and hairless body – a cruel reminder of her abusive past in the circus. “We thank everyone who donated to help us save Cholita – we hope people will now dig deep to rescue two more spectacled bears who are in urgent need of our help.”

ADI Cholita spent years in a cruel circus

ADI is launching the urgent appeal to save two more spectacled bears, Lucho and Sabina, and who could give Cholita the companionship of her own kind for the first time in her life. Like Cholita, the two bears are victims of the circus and illegal wildlife trade, living in appalling conditions and in need of urgent help. They would be ideal companions for Cholita who has not seen her own kind since she was torn from her mother as a baby. The charity says it will cost more than £10,000 to save Lucho and Sabina and get them back to the forest in a home like Cholita’s. Their lifelong care and veterinary needs will cost £3,000 per month. For more details, see: www.ad-international.org

ADI After being rescue from the circus she spent another 10 years in a zoo waiting for a proper home