Canelo, the Mexican boxing legend, recently unveiled a new tattoo—a powerful bear symbolizing strength and vigor. Little did he know, this symbolic gesture would soon become the catalyst for a real-life conservation mission.
During one of Canelo’s powerful matches, our team at NWC spotted his striking tattoo and saw an opportunity to reach out for help. With a critical bear surgery looming, requiring specialized equipment, we took a bold step and reached out to Canelo—and he answered our call with incredible generosity.
We are immensely grateful to Canelo for his substantial donation. Despite unforeseen challenges during the operation, including extensive damage to the hip area, the surgery was a success in that it allowed us to be confident that this bear can be released. We are thrilled to report that the bear is recovering nicely and will soon be released back into the wild.
This equipment, generously provided by Canelo will be used for future orthopedic cases, ensuring a lasting impact on wildlife conservation efforts. We extend heartfelt thanks to Mike and Ella from Bear With Us (BWU) for their exceptional care, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry for safely transporting the bear to BWU, Dr. Krista Halling for her expert surgical skills, and our amazing NWC volunteers, Dr. Anjuli Dabydeen and Andrea Thompson.
Canelo’s support highlighted the profound impact of collaboration between sportsmanship and wildlife conservation. We are honoured to have partnered with Canelo in this incredible journey of compassion and action, proving that together, we can make a meaningful difference in the lives of animals.