The Beradise Ranch website in Florida describes the facility as the home of the “famous Welde family bears”. Established in 1926, the ranch aims to “raise public awareness of the conservation and preservation of habitats for all bear species” while also making its 13 bears available for film and television projects, as well as traveling fairs and festivals on which they do tricks and tricks indicates.
Two of the bears that live on the Myakka City property are Bruno and Bambi, a couple who, according to Bearaside’s Facebook page, were used to inspire the animated characters in Disney’s 2003 Brother Bear. Directed by Aaron Blaise and Robert Walker, the film is about an Inuit hunter who magically turns into a bear as punishment after killing one.
Oscar winner Joaquin Phoenix, who voiced the main character of Kenai, is now campaigning for Bruno and Bambi to be transferred from the facility to “an accredited sanctuary”. Phoenix – a passionate vegan and animal activist who has used his star power to save cows from slaughter and get Hollywood to move away from meat-filled menus at awards shows – has specifically called for the tours and fair conditions.
“These bears deserve better than a life on the street, where everything that is natural and important to them is deprived of them, and if you put yourself in their position you would surely see that too,” Phoenix writes in the letter, addressed to Monica Welde, owner of Bearaside Ranch, received from The Hollywood Reporter. “They know firsthand that bears are curious, complex animals that like to climb, dig, forage, and play. Their keen sense of smell and plate-sized paws have evolved to allow them to look for mate and food over long distances, but those carefully sharpened traits are wasted at the circular fair, where they have to be caged when they don’t mature over pulling their heads and carrying basketballs around in front of crowds of strangers. “
THR has reached out to Beradise Ranch for a comment on Phoenix’s letter and will update with a response as one becomes available.
According to the ranch’s website, in addition to working in movies, TV shows, and commercials, the bears are available for weddings, “bearthday parties,” and company picnics. However, it was not free from controversy. Earlier this year, Welde was cited by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission for “violating state wildlife laws” for allegedly allowing a local television crew to feed a bear without protective barriers.
A full copy of Phoenix’s letter is below.
Dear Monika,
I just learned that two of the bears used on your walking show, Bambi and Bruno, were the models for Disney’s Brother Bear. I voiced the main character of the film, Kenai, who is magically transformed as a lesson in empathy to see the world through the eyes of bears, and now I ask you to see through their eyes too. These bears deserve better than a life on the streets where they are deprived of everything that is natural and important to them, and if you put yourself in their shoes, you would surely see it too.
You know firsthand that bears are curious, complex animals that love to climb, dig, forage, and play. Their keen sense of smell and plate-sized paws have evolved to allow them to look for mate and food over long distances, but these carefully sharpened traits are wasted in the county’s circular market, where they must be caged when they are not Pull tires over their heads and carry basketballs around in front of crowds of strangers.
Bambi and Bruno will never experience life in the wild. They’ll never sniff out salmon runs or cross mountains – but that doesn’t mean their lives can’t get better. Please consider putting an end to the tricks and travel and giving all the bears in your facility a chance to simply live like bears? If you really want to do the best for them, let me help you make arrangements to have them transferred to an accredited sanctuary.
Sincere,
Joaquin Phoenix
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