Save Rocky, the "Hollywood Bear"

Adapted from news source: Times Online
A grizzly bear who became a Hollywood star could be put down after killing his trainer with a single bite to the neck.

The grizzly, named Rocky, has been described as %u201Cthe best working bear in the business%u201D. He can be seen in the new film Semi-Pro when Will Ferrell%u2019s character wrestles Dewey the Killer Bear to promote his basketball team.

But a training session at the California compound of Predators in Action, which provides exotic animals to Hollywood, ended tragically on Tuesday. Three handlers were working with Rocky when he lunged at Stephan Miller and bit him on the neck.

%u201CIt was just an initial single bite. There was no other further aggression,%u201D said Maurice Moore, of the San Bernardino fire department. %u201CHe was used to people, used to these trainers. This happened to be a sad accident.%u201D

Predators in Action owner, Randy Miller, praised the bear in an interview in February with the San Bernardino Sun, but added: %u201CIf one of these animals gets a hold of your throat, you%u2019re finished.%u201D

Predators in Action keeps four African lions, four tigers, a black leopard, a cougar and one other grizzly bear on its 55-acre property in the San Bernardino mountains east of Los Angeles.

The company%u2019s website says Rocky and the second grizzly, named Dakota, %u201Chave worked on some of the wildest jobs ever done%u201D.

%u201CThey are world famous for wrestling scenes they have done in films and live shows. These bears are hard working and known for long runs, great action and staged attacks. They are good around people but can look extremely dangerous.%u201D Rocky%u2019s fate will now be decided by local animal care officials.

Denise Richards, who works with wild animals at nearby Moonridge Zoo, said trained animals that turn on their handlers are often destroyed. %u201CYou can train them and use as many safety precautions as you can, but you%u2019re still taking a chance if you%u2019re putting yourself in contact with them,%u201D she said.

%u201CIt%u2019s still a wild animal. Even though it may appear that the bear attacked for no reason, there was a reason. I%u2019m sure Randy understands why it happened. They%u2019re not cold-blooded killers.%u201D

Adapted from news source: Times Online
A grizzly bear who became a Hollywood star could be put down after killing his trainer with a single bite to the neck.

The grizzly, named Rocky, has been described as %u201Cthe best working bear in the business%u201D. He can be seen in the new film Semi-Pro when Will Ferrell%u2019s character wrestles Dewey the Killer Bear to promote his basketball team.

But a training session at the California compound of Predators in Action, which provides exotic animals to Hollywood, ended tragically on Tuesday. Three handlers were working with Rocky when he lunged at Stephan Miller and bit him on the neck.

%u201CIt was just an initial single bite. There was no other further aggression,%u201D said Maurice Moore, of the San Bernardino fire department. %u201CHe was used to people, used to these trainers. This happened to be a sad accident.%u201D

Predators in Action owner, Randy Miller, praised the bear in an interview in February with the San Bernardino Sun, but added: %u201CIf one of these animals gets a hold of your throat, you%u2019re finished.%u201D

Predators in Action keeps four African lions, four tigers, a black leopard, a cougar and one other grizzly bear on its 55-acre property in the San Bernardino mountains east of Los Angeles.

The company%u2019s website says Rocky and the second grizzly, named Dakota, %u201Chave worked on some of the wildest jobs ever done%u201D.

%u201CThey are world famous for wrestling scenes they have done in films and live shows. These bears are hard working and known for long runs, great action and staged attacks. They are good around people but can look extremely dangerous.%u201D Rocky%u2019s fate will now be decided by local animal care officials.

Denise Richards, who works with wild animals at nearby Moonridge Zoo, said trained animals that turn on their handlers are often destroyed. %u201CYou can train them and use as many safety precautions as you can, but you%u2019re still taking a chance if you%u2019re putting yourself in contact with them,%u201D she said.

%u201CIt%u2019s still a wild animal. Even though it may appear that the bear attacked for no reason, there was a reason. I%u2019m sure Randy understands why it happened. They%u2019re not cold-blooded killers.%u201D