Real life Paddington Bear rescued after cruel treatment by circus in Peru

An elderly Andean bear dubbed the real-life Paddington Bear needs a new home after being rescued from the circus in Peru.

Cholita was saved by authorities who confiscated her after she was illegally kept and placed her temporarily in a zoo.

She was found with her fingers cut down to stumps by the circus to remove her claws and her teeth were broken. She also suffers from severe alopecia. As an endangered Spectacled bear, she should have thick black fur but her body is bald and she is unrecognisable.

Now charity Animal Defenders International (ADI) and Government agencies are working to find her a permanent home.

ADI has launched an urgent appeal to get Cholita on a charted flight to America, along with 33 rescued circus lions.

Jan Creamer at ADI says: "This elderly bear has endured unimaginable suffering but she has a chance to enjoy her final years; we just need to get her onto the ADI Spirit of Freedom flight.

"Everyone is pulling together for Cholita, Curt Beer Ecological Park in Talara where she is living are ready to sign her over to ADI, the US and Peruvian authorities have said they will work together get export permits in place for Cholita, and The Wild Animal Sanctuary in Colorado has agreed to take her if ADI can get her there."

To donate and help Cholita find a new home, visit ad-international.org/donate/