When traditional binge-watching becomes boring, there is Bearflix: an unusual streaming service that aims to support orphaned bear cubs in Romania.
The unconventional fundraising project was launched by the World Wide Fund for Nature to raise money for the donation-dependent Bear Again Rehabilitation Center in the heart of the Hasmas mountains in central Romania.
The platform resembles a regular streaming service, as by paying a fee of $5-$20 per month, donors can watch episodes presenting the daily life of the bear cubs.
Apart from sharing success stories of the rehabilitated cubs, Bearflix also aims to educate public on the behavior and biology of brown bears.
The orphanage, which W.W.F. says is the only one of its kind in Europe, has rescued and rehabilitated over 150 bears since it was founded in 2004.
The bear cubs are provided with food and shelter in a two-year program after which they are released back into their natural habitat.
Romania has the largest bear population in Europe with over 7,000 bears, according to the Four Paws, an animal welfare organization.
Alina Moldovan, W.W.F. Romania Digital Fundraising Coordinator, said, "Although we've been running a fundraising campaign to support the bear orphanage for a few years now, what we wanted to do with Bearflix is not only to show success story of the rehabilitated cubs but also transmit essential information about the importance, biology and behaviour of these animals. Our plan is to keep adding more films on Bearflix, which hopefully will bring new members that can help the bear orphanage to secure food and shelter and expand their rehabilitation program."
