This is the moment a sad bear, kept in a tiny cage for three decades, was finally freed - while others remain trapped in a Slovenian hellhole to amuse tourists.

Felix, 34, the rescued brown bear, was saved from his concrete enclosure by wildlife rescuers and transported to the Bear Sanctuary Arbesbach in Austria.

Despite Felix's years in captivity, Slovenian authorities reportedly refused to assist in rehousing him, and the country has done little to support rescue efforts.

Felix is one of five so-called ‘restaurant bears' kept in nightmare conditions across Slovenia, confined in tiny, barren cages for the entertainment of guests.

Local media reported that two bears have died while waiting to be rescued, while two others remain locked up at eateries.

Four Paws, an animal welfare organisation, confirmed that the bear was transferred from Slovenia after a series of delays in May.

Felix is the oldest of the five bears held in concrete pens without veterinary care or any enrichment. One is still confined at a restaurant, and another remains at a private zoo.

A spokesman from the group said that they have been trying to rescue all five bears since 2022, but only Felix and two others were still alive when one diner agreed to hand him over and Slovenian officials permitted the rescue.

One bear, Mascha, died several months ago. Another, Mitko, was euthanised by a veterinarian just days before an official inspection that might have led to his confiscation.

Four Paws accused Slovenian authorities of delaying action and blamed their inaction for Mitko's unnecessary death.

Eva Rosenberg, director of Four Paws Austria, said: 'We were shocked, heartbroken—and incredibly angry because this death could have been prevented.'

Mitko had been kept at the ‘Tourist Farm Abram' in Nanos and was found to be in distress shortly before the scheduled inspection.

The organisation said: 'Exactly one day after Mitko's death, the ultimatum for the owner to improve the completely inadequate conditions would have expired.'

Four Paws is now demanding the immediate confiscation or voluntary handover of the remaining two bears, Mici and Tim, to species-appropriate sanctuaries.

During a 2023 visit, the two bears were reportedly showed obvious signs of distress, suffering from parasites, painful dental issues caused by gnawing on cage bars, and open wounds from standing on concrete floors.

Footage shows the animals confined in filthy, grey enclosures with no natural features or meaningful stimulation.

In August last year, Four Paws launched a petition calling on the Slovenian Ministry of Natural Resources and Spatial Planning to allow the rescue mission.

Despite support from veterinarians and conservation experts across Europe—including Poland and Croatia—Slovenian authorities failed to act.

Veterinary professor Djuro Huber from the University of Zagreb said: 'They are living miserable lives, kept as lifetime prisoners. Their welfare is limited to providing non-natural food.'

Agnieszka Sergiel, a conservation biologist from the Polish Academy of Sciences, added: 'The bears exhibit severe stereotypic behaviours. Inappropriate keeping accelerates the development of painful medical conditions.'