A bear who lost all her fur, claws and teeth when she was abused in a South American circus has made a miraculous recovery, as this heartwarming video shows.

Elderly Cholita was kept captive 20 years until she was rescued by charity Animal Defenders International (ADI).

Workers found her miserable and stressed in a small concrete enclosure with no stimulation or company.

Elderly Cholita (pictured), who has been dubbed the 'real life Paddington Bear' was kept captive for 20 years until she was rescued by charity Animal Defenders International

Workers found her miserable in a small concrete enclosure with no stimulation or company (pictured left). She was in poor condition and needed extensive medical car (pictured right)

At night she slept in a tiny metal cage. When she was rescued she was in such poor health she had to be provided with an oxygen tent.

But, after her rescue Cholita is enjoying life again in a specially built forest enclosure.

Dubbed the 'bear with no hair' and a 'real life Paddington', Cholita is now living a carefree life kept company by neighbours Lucho and Sabina.

ADI president Jan Creamer said 'It is an absolute joy to see Cholita enjoying her new home, and the sights and sounds of the forest which she was cruelly denied as a baby.'

The charity has now launched a petition to save another 'bear with no hair' kept captive in the Andes.

Thanks to her rescuers Cholita is now enjoying life again (pictured) in her specially built forest enclosure

She is fed properly and has even started to grow back some of the fur she lost due to stress caused by the isolation of her old enclosure

For the first time Cholita (pictured left) is able to interact with other bears who were also rescued (pictured right)

Ms Creamer added: 'ADI has launched an appeal to rescue a balding lady spectacled bear called Dominga, who is currently living alone in a small zoo in the Andes.'