Casey Affleck–Voiced Robot Bear to Urge Tourists in Charlotte: ‘Stay Away From Bear Pits!’
PETA’s Moving, Talking Bear Will Tell Kids and Families How Wild Animals Suffer in Tiny, Filthy, Barren Concrete Pits
For Immediate Release:
October 20, 2016
Contact:
David Perle 202-483-7382
What: Voiced by Manchester by the Sea star Casey Affleck, “Bernard”—PETA’s 7-foot-tall robotic bear—will be in Charlotte on Friday with a message for tourists: Stay miles away from Cherokee Bear Zoo in Cherokee and any other tourist trap that still confines bears to barren concrete pits or tiny pens.
When: Friday, October 21, 11 a.m.–2 p.m.
Where: At the corner of N. Tryon and W. Trade streets, Charlotte
PETA—whose motto reads, in part, that “animals are not ours to use for entertainment”—will display banners showing bears confined to cramped pits and pens, where they endure psychological distress and have been documented suffering from arthritis, pressure sores, and other painful, debilitating conditions. Since 2012, PETA has successfully worked to close down two other bear pits and move 56 captive bears from pits and tiny pens to sanctuaries—where they are finally free to roam, forage, climb, and swim.
“Bears belong with their families in nature, not on display in filthy concrete pits,” says Affleck. “PETA’s remarkable animatronic bear will do wonders this summer to show kids and their parents why everyone should stay away from these cruel tourist traps.”
Bernard just appeared in Cherokee and Asheville to warn tourists to stay away from Cherokee Bear Zoo.
For more information, please visit PETA.org.
