In the Qualla Boundary area of western North Carolina are three roadside zoos; Cherokee Bear Zoo, Chief Saunooke Bear Park, and Santa's Land, that keep bears in unnecessarily cruel and inhumane conditions.

These Cherokee facilities keep bears in dank concrete pits and cramped cages, denying the bears the ability to exhibit natural behavior. The bears are endlessly pacing back and forth, crying out and whimpering, fighting with each other and begging tourists for food. These beautiful bears of all kinds are being held in cement pits while people pay 5$ to throw apples and donuts down to them. The bears - sun bears, black bears and grissly bears, are abused, obese, and in horrible shape. They deserve something more than concrete under their feet - they deserve grass and trees. They deserve to be something more than an attraction. They deserve to be free.

Please sign the petition to encourage Michell Hicks, Principal Chief of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians to free the bears.