Performing black bears retire in freedom at Texas ranch

Like many humans, two senior black bears have retired in Texas.

The retiring bears are Sammi, 19, and Tibor, 26. They previously were used for entertainment in East Texas, said Noelle Almrud, director of the Cleveland Amory Black Beauty Ranch in Murchison, near Athens.

They have been through a two-week quarantine period at the ranch and were released Monday into a wooded, one-acre area made just for them.

Almrud said senior bear care includes treatment for conditions such as arthritis, obesity and mobility issues. They are currently being given supplements for arthritis, she said.

"They're just a little stiff, especially with the cold weather," she said.

The normal life span for bears in captvity is 20 to 25 years, Almrud said.

The bears previously traveled across the U.S. for months at a time, performing at fairs and festivals.

The 1,400-acre ranch is an animal sanctuary that currently is home to 800 animals including tigers from the pet trade, monkeys and chimps used for biomedical research, exotic deer and antelope, horses and donkeys rescued from cruelty and neglect and others, Almrud said.

The ranch, founded in 1979, is operated by the Fund for Animals and the Humane Society of the United States. To donate directly to the sanctuary and learn more, go here or to this Amazon.com wish list.

Judy Wiley: 817-390-7843, @judygwiley

This story was originally published January 22, 2018 at 2:23 PM with the headline "Performing black bears retire in freedom at Texas ranch."