In 2007, Bears in Mind and Stiftung für Bären started receiving complaints from both international as well as Czech tourists regarding the mental and physical state of bears in Czech castle moats. Most of the complaints described insufficient conditions and stereotypies in the bear moat of the Český Krumlov Castle. In 2021 Bears in Mind and Stiftung für Bären formed a coalition with the main aim to cease bear keeping at the Český Krumlov Castle. In early 2023, after gathering information and inspecting the wellbeing of bears in Český Krumlov, Stiftung für Bären launched a petition addressing the Český Krumlov Castle and UNESCO, and demanding to cease the suffering of Krumlov bears. Almost 120,000 respondents signed the petition.
In June 2023 the founders achieved a breakthrough in negotiations when they met with the management of the Český Krumlov Castle, and most importantly with the deputy director of the National Heritage Institute (NPÚ). This institute falls directly under the Czech Ministry of Culture and is responsible for the management of Czech state monuments and castles. During the first meeting with the deputy director, Mr. Pešek, the coalition handed over the petition, shared their views and proposed solutions where the current castle bears can be relocated to specialised bear sanctuaries abroad.
The coalition gives advice about each potential bear relocation, to make sure the most suitable forever home is chosen for each individual, taking into account its physical and mental health and life history. The coalition facilitates the relocation, veterinary care and monitoring, and the adaptation process in their new environment. Besides Germany and the Netherlands, specialised bear parks are situated in several other countries, for example in Austria, Switzerland, Bulgaria, Kosovo and the UK.
In May 2024 the coalition and the NPÚ signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to mark the start of the gradual end of keeping bears at Czech state castles.
Moreover, they joined forces with researchers from the Faculty of Environmental Sciences at the Czech University of Life Sciences in Prague (CZ) and researchers from the Institute of Nature Conservation PAN (PL) to design independent research in order to assess public opinion regarding bear keeping at Czech castle moats. As of 2024, the research is ongoing. Its preliminary results were presented at the 28th International Conference for Bear Research and Management in Edmonton (CA) in September 2024 bringing international attention to the project. As part of the research and a public education campaign we have developed a video in which we show and explain the challenges and visuals of this project.