Note that the Winton Foundation for the Welfare of Bears is run entirely by volunteers, enabling us to keep our running costs extremely low and ensuring maximum funding goes to our chosen beneficiaries.

Our focus is to identify and research reputable organisations working for the welfare of bears and to support them both financially and through raising awareness of their work.

Funds distributed to date

Summer 2020: The Wildwood Trust, donation to help with the care of their two newly rescued bears Mish and Lucy – £200. Read more…

Summer 2020: Forgotten Animals: emergency appeal to help treat a cub hit by a train – £200. Read more…

Summer 2020: Southwest Wildlife Conservation Center, annual donation to buy the bears their summer watermelons – £106. Read more…

Summer 2020: The Yellowstone Wildlife Sanctuary, funding to purchase an emergency evacuation shelter – £303. Read more…

Summer 2020: Idaho Black Bear Rehabilitation Center, funding to help with the summer release of their bears – £331. Read more…

Summer 2020: Animals Asia, donation to emergency Covid-19 Appeal – £100. Read more…

Winter 2019: Idaho Black Bear Rehabilitation Center, funds to help cover the transportation, vet bills and food expenses of their rescued bears – £209. Read more…

Winter 2019: Animals Asia, Vietnam Sanctuary, funds for the bears’ Christmas Coconuts – £200. Read more…

Winter 2019: In the Company of Wolves, special treats for Woody and Sammy – £75. Read more…

Winter 2019: Advancing Bear Care Conference, sponsorship of presentation by Jonathan Forde, Senior Keeper Hoofstock and Bears, The Wildwood Trust, Kent on “The Development and Benefits of Captive Torpor in European Brown Bears”. Read more…

Winter 2019: Cochrane Polar Bear Habitat, donation for their work with orphaned polar bear cubs – £211. Read more…

Winter 2019: Bubonitsky Orphan Bear Rescue Centre, for their work rescuing and rehabilitating orphaned bear cubs from around Russia – £200. Read more…

Summer 2019: Forgotten Animals, funding towards their Bear Rehabilitation work – £206. Read more…

Summer 2019: Northern Lights Wildlife Society, funds to go towards the purchase of a low-impact tranquilizer gun – £201. Read more…

Summer 2019: Southwest Wildlife Conservation Center, donation to buy their five bears their favourite summer watermelons – £101. Read more…

Summer 2019: The Wildlife Centre of Virginia, funding towards the care of the bears in their wildlife rescue centre – £110. Read more…

Winter 2018: Valhalla Wilderness Society, funding to assist with the work of their new Bear Smart coordinator for the Slocan Valley, British Columbia – £103. Read more…

Winter 2018: Animals Asia, the Vietnam bears’ Christmas coconuts! – £200. Read more…

Winter 2018: Lions, Tigers and Bears, funds to help buy their bears’ favourite foods of nuts and dates and any enrichment items they felt the bears would like – £212. Read more…

Winter 2018: Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge, funds to assist with the care of their rescued bears – £208. Read more…

Winter 2018: The BEAR League, funding towards their work teaching humans how to live in harmony with bears – £104. Read more…

Dec 2018: sponsorship for the Advancing Bear Care annual workshop & conference held in Agra, India – £203. Read more…

Summer 2018: In the Company of Wolves, to buy Sammy her favourite hard ball toys and her special treats of peanut butter and oranges – £122. Read more…

Summer 2018: The Southwest Wildlife Conservation Center, to buy their bears their favourite summer treat of watermelons – £65. Read more…

Summer 2018: MongoliAid, funding for the provision of supplemental feed drops to the very rare Gobi Bear – £274 Read more….

Winter 2017: Animals Asia, Vietnam Sanctuary, coconuts for the bears as a Christmas present from us – £176. Read more…

Winter 2017: Idaho Black Bear Rehabilitation Center, grant to aid the on-going care of rescued cubs and the release of their current residents America and Liberty in the spring – £400. Read more…

Winter 2017: Eco-Halych Bear Rehabilitation Project: help to purchase a camera for live streaming of the bears – £497 Read more….

Winter 2017: Wild Welfare, enrichment for the bears currently resident in bear parks in Japan. Read more…

Nov 2017: The Animals Trust and Idaho Black Bear Rehabilitation Center, grant to help with a collaborative environmental education and outreach effort between The Animals Trust and IBBR entitled “Walking with Wildlife” – £400. Read more…

Summer 2017: Get Bear Smart, contribution towards the cost of a passive deterrent device and electric unwelcome mat – CAN$400 (£240). Read more…

Summer 2017: MongoliAid, contribution to costs of summer food drop – £269.21. Read more…

Summer 2017: Forest Animal Rescue, purchase of toys and enrichment – US$220 (£170). Read more…

Dec 2016: Woodlands Wildlife, donation in the memory of our sweet and special girl Grace towards the cost of running the bear cubs webcam and the purchase of 4 boomer balls as enrichment for their current bear residents – £84.75 (US$100) and £61.78 (US$75.96). Read more…

Dec 2016: Libearty Bear Sanctuary, Romania, adoption of Max – £53.96.

Dec 2016: Animals Asia, Vietnam Sanctuary, to buy a coconut for each of the 160 rescued bears at their Vietnam Sanctuary as a Christmas present from us – £160. Read more…

Dec 2016: Eco-Halych Wildlife Rehab, for wooden enrichment for their rescued bears – £200 (US$250). Read more…

Dec 2016: Fluffy and Scruffy, new adoption of Fluffy and Scruffy at the Wildwood Trust – £80. Read more…

Oct 2016: Advancing Bear Care 2016 Conference, sponsorship of a coffee break to encourage networking – £210 (US$260). Read more…

Jun 2016: Northern Lights Wildlife Shelter, BC, Canada, to feed their triplet cubs for two weeks – £250 (CAN$300). Read more…

Jun 2016: Toilet Twinning, joint funding with the Five Sisters Zoo for the building of a school toilet block in India, twinned with the Brown Bear Cafe at the zoo – £120. Read more…

Jun 2016: ThaBarWa, Myanmar, cost of sending vet to treat cub – £500. Read more…

Jun 2016: MongoliAid, food drop for the Gobi bears – £300. Read more…

Mar 2016: Animals Asia, adoption of Bodo – £40.

Dec 2015: Idaho Black Bear Rehabilitation Centre, to assist with the care, rehabilitation and return to the wild of orphaned bear cubs – £300 (US$445). Read more…

Dec 2015: Sun Bear Outreach, donation to build two long drinking water basins. Read more…

Dec 2015: The Northern Lights Wildlife Society, donation to build a climbing platform and hammock – £300. Read more…

Dec 2015: The Five Sisters Zoo, donation to purchase boomer balls, glucosamine and special food bin. Read more…

Dec 2015: The BEAR League, donation to purchase new capture equipment. Read more…

Dec 2015: Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre, donation towards monthly food bill – £300. Read more…

Oct 2015: The Advancing Bear Care Conference, sponsorship to assist in the funding of reduced fees for delegates from 3rd world countries – £200. Read more…

Jul 2015: Forest Animal Rescue, Florida, donation towards the cost of toys and enrichment for their non-releasable bears – £200. Read more…

Jul 2015: Idaho Black Bear Rehabilitation Centre, to assist with the care, rehabilitation and return to the wild of orphaned bear cubs – £200. Read more…

Jul 2015: Free the Bears, Perth, Australia, to assist in their work protecting, preserving and enriching the lives of bears around the world – £200. Read more…

Mar 2015: Animals Asia, adoption of Bodo – £40.

Dec 2014: Wildlife SOS, to assist with their care of rescued dancing bears – £100 (US$158). Read more…

Dec 2014: Get Bear Smart Society, Whistler, Canada, to assist with their work to promote harmonious human/bear living and their tree planting project – £100 (CAN$179). Read more…

Dec 2014: Animals Asia, Vietnam Sanctuary, to buy coconuts and tyres for the sanctuary’s bears – £250. Read more…

Dec 2014: Libearty Bear Sanctuary, Romania, towards building a special enclosure for one of their blind bears – £100. Read more…

Dec 2014: Bear With Us, to assist with the ongoing care of their resident ex-circus bears Yogi and Molly – £100. Read more…

Nov 2014: Wildwood Trust, to assist with the ongoing care of the rescued bears – £600. Read more…

Sep 2014: Grace’s Appeal, additional donation towards Grace’s care – £335 (US$550). Read more…

Jul 2014: Animals Asia, Peace by Piece campaign – £340. Read more…

Jul 2014: Wildwood Trust, to assist in their bear rescue appeal – £200. Read more…

Jun 2014: Grace’s Appeal, additional donation towards Grace’s care – £315 (US$509). Read more…

Jun 2014: Wildlife SOS, to assist with their care of rescued dancing bears – £100 (US$170). Read more…

Jun 2014: Northern Lights Wildlife Shelter, BC, Canada, to assist with their bear rehabilitation success studies and ongoing bear protection work – £100 (CAN$185). Read more…

Jun 2014: Idaho Black Bear Rehabilitation Centre, to assist with the care, rehabilitation and return to the wild of orphaned bear cubs – £100 (US$170). Read more…

Jun 2014: BEAR League, Lake Tahoe, to help with their work to promote humans living in harmony with bears, to protect the region’s bears and to prevent human/bear conflict – £200. Read more…

Jun 2014: Lions, Tigers and Bears, to assist with the care of their bears – £100 (US$170). Read more…

Jun 2014: Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge, to assist with the care of their bears – £100 (US$170). Read more…

May 2014: Animals Asia, Peace by Piece campaign – £225. Read more…

Mar 2014: Grace’s Appeal, additional donation towards Grace’s care – £315 (US$525). Read more…

Mar 2014: Animals Asia, adoption of Bodo – £40.

Feb 2014: Grace’s Appeal, additional donation towards Grace’s care – £250 (US$410). Read more…

Jan 2014: KWPLH, Indonesia, for their work to protect the Sun Bear and raise local awareness and education about this amazing bear – £108. Read more…

Dec 2013: Northern Lights Wildlife Shelter, BC, Canada, to assist with their bear rehabilitation success studies and ongoing bear protection work – £100 (CAN$175). Read more…

Dec 2013: Wildlife SOS, to assist with their care of rescued dancing bears – £200 (US$330). Read more…

Dec 2013: Grace’s Appeal, additional donations towards Grace’s care – £140 (US$230). Read more…

Nov 2013: Grace’s Appeal, additional donations towards Grace’s care – £350 (US$560). Read more…

Nov 2013: Libearty Bear Sanctuary, Romania, Adoption of Max – £50.

Oct 2013: Grace’s Appeal, first donation towards the care of this very special little bear – £300 (US$485). Read more…

Oct 2013: Panda Conservation Posters, cost of 2,000 posters to be distributed to around a quarter of a million children in China, educating the next generation on the protection of the Giant Panda – £400. Read more…

Jul 2013: Animals Asia Bricks Appeal, donation towards the cost of bricks to help secure their Chengdu sanctuary against flooding – £60. Read more…

Jul 2013: Peace River Refuge, Florida, donation towards the cost of toys and enrichment for their non-releasable bears – £135. Read more…

May 2013: Five Sisters Zoo, first batch of fruit and veg purchased with funds raised through Carmen, Suzy and Peggy’s ‘Vegging Out’ fund – £30. Read more…

May 2013: Five Sisters Zoo, donation to fund the cost of two months of glucosamine tablets for Carmen, Suzy and Peggy to help their joints – £50. Read more…

May 2013: Five Sisters Zoo, set up of special food fund for Carmen, Suzy and Peggy. Read more…

Apr 2013: Five Sisters Zoo, donation to assist with the care of Carmen, Suzy and Peggy following the devastating fire – £500. Read more…

Apr 2013: The Valhalla Wilderness Society, to support their work to save the Kermode (Spirit) Bear and its habitat – £100 (CAN$160). Read more…

Apr 2013: The BEAR League, Lake Tahoe, to support their Cub Rescue Program – £200 (US$300). Read more…

Mar 2013: Animals Asia, adoption of Bodo – £40.

Jan/Feb 2013: Idaho Black Bear Rehabilitation Centre, to assist with the care, rehabilitation and return to the wild of mother bear and cub, new arrivals in Feb 2013 – £100 (US$160). Read more…

Jan 2013: Animals Asia, Vietnam Sanctuary, to purchase coconuts for each of the 104 bears saved from threatened eviction, a special celebratory treat! – £100. Read more…

Jan 2013: Animals Asia, China Sanctuary, to purchase a new stereo for bears rescued from bear farms to listen to calming and relaxing music as they recover – £100. Read more…

Jan 2013: Advancing Bear Care 2013 Conference, sponsorship of one delegate’s Registration Fee – £200 (US$300). Read more…

Jan 2013: Woodlands Wildlife Refuge, New Jersey, USA, to assist with the cost of strengthening the fencing in their large bear enclosure so that younger bears can be moved there sooner – £100 (US$160). Read more…

Jan 2013: Get Bear Smart Society, Whistler, Canada, to assist with their work to promote harmonious human/bear living – £100 (CAN$160). Read more…

Nov 2012: Libearty Bear Sanctuary, Romania, Adoption of Max – £50.

Jun 2012: Animals Asia’s Bear Enrichment Program, the cost of special toys for Oliver and his buddies. Please follow the link to read more about this remarkable bear and how the Winton Bear Foundation are helping him – £100. Read more…

May 2012: Dedication Plaque at the Five Sisters Zoo, in the name of the Winton Bear Foundation as a reminder of the respect we should show to all animals (follow the link to see the plaque). The cost of the plaque goes towards the care and upkeep of Carmen, Suzy and Peggy, the three rescued circus bears – £50. Read more…

May 2012: The Spectacled Bear Conservation Society, Peru, towards the cost of their work to protect the Spectacled bear – £100 (CAN$160). Read more…

May 2012: Idaho Black Bear Rehabilitation Centre, towards the cost of a swim tub for the cubs – £100 (US$160). Read more…

Mar 2012: Five Sisters Zoo (West Lothian, Scotland), joint project following their rescue of three ex-circus bears, Suzy, Carmen and Peggy. Production of educational leaflet and boards on bears exploited for ‘entertainment’ – £131.18. Read more…

Mar 2012: Animals Asia, renewal of adoption of Bodo – £40.

Jan 2012: Northern Lights Wildlife Shelter, BC, Canada, to assist with their bear rehabilitation success studies and ongoing bear protection work – £100 (CAN$160). Read more…

Jan 2012: Get Bear Smart Society, Whistler, Canada, to assist with their work to promote harmonious human/bear living and their tree planting project – £100 (CAN$160). Read more…

Jan 2012: Idaho Black Bear Rehabilitation Centre, to assist with the care, rehabilitation and return to the wild of orphaned bear cubs – £340 (US$500). Read more…

Nov 2011: Libearty Bear Sanctuary, Romania, Adoption of Max – £53.16.

Nov 2011: Animals Asia, Bear Enrichment Programme (Vietnam Sanctuary) – funding for two fire hose hammocks for the cubs – £100. Read more…

Sept 2011: Polar Bears International, USA, for their work to protect the Polar Bear and its habitat – £100. Read more…

Aug 2011: KWPLH, Indonesia, for their work to protect the Sun Bear and raise local awareness and education about this amazing bear – £100. Read more…

Aug 2011: Wildlife Trust of India, to monitor Sloth Bear dens in the wild during the weaning season to prevent capture of the cubs to be used as dancing bears – £100. Read more…

Aug 2011: Hauser Bears, to assist with the care of Marko & Maria, Brown Bears rescued from a cage outside a restaurant in Albania, while they await transfer to the Libearty Bear Sanctuary in Romania – £100. Read more…

Jul 2011: Andean Bear Foundation, to assist with their work to save the Spectacled Bear from extinction – £100. Read more…

Jun 2011: BEAR League, Lake Tahoe, as below – £100. Read more…

May 2011: BEAR League, Lake Tahoe, to help with their work to promote humans living in harmony with bears, to protect the region’s bears and to prevent human/bear conflict – £100. Read more…

Apr 2011: Animals Asia, Bear Enrichment Programme (China Sanctuary), funding for a fire hose hammock and a log wall – £100. Read more…

Apr 2011: Idaho Black Bear Rehabilitation Centre, to assist with the care, rehabilitation and return to the wild of orphaned bear cubs – £100. Read more…

Mar 2011: Animals Asia, adoption of Bodo – £40.

Feb 2011: International Animal Rescue, towards eye operations on blind dancing bears – £200.
Read more…

Nov 2010: WSPA Balkasar Sanctuary, food, medical equipment and drugs for bears rescued from bear baiting – £700. Read more…