Bears in Mind

What Bears in Mind does

Stichting Bears in Mind is a Dutch charitable foundation (stichting, KvK 41186102) founded in 1993 in Rhenen, Netherlands, and rebranded from Alertis in 2016. Its mission is the welfare and conservation of bears, both captive and wild, through three core pillars: rescue and sanctuary operation, international conservation project funding, and public education and advocacy. The foundation operates Het Berenbos, a semi-natural brown bear sanctuary housed within Ouwehands Dierenpark in Rhenen, which currently holds 7 rescued brown bears and has been the destination for 36 bears rescued over the organization's 30-year history.

The organization's product and platform surface is mission-oriented rather than commercial. Core assets include the Het Berenbos sanctuary, the Bear Alert online and offline reporting platform (co-developed with German partner Stiftung für Bären for tracking bears in distress), the Berengoed.nl merchandise webshop, the Beregoeie Reis mission-specific crowdfunding platform, the Beregoeie Run annual fundraising event at Ouwehands Dierenpark, the De Berekrant monthly newsletter, and the 2025-published children's book 'Wij, beren.' Revenue is generated entirely through donations and fundraising rather than commercial sales: one-time gifts (€10/€20/€50/custom), monthly and annual recurring donations (eligible for up to 49.5% Dutch tax recovery), bear adoption programs covering brown bears, Malayan bears, and wolves, Bear Forest parcel sales, corporate sponsorships, merchandise, and event-based fundraising.

Bears in Mind serves individual donors (primary), corporate CSR partners, and educational/family audiences, while operating an international project network across 35 countries through formal memberships in IUCN, EAZA, EARS, and the International Association for Bear Research & Management, plus operational partnerships with Animals Asia Foundation (China/Vietnam since 2006), Free the Bears (Southeast Asia), FOUR PAWS (European bear sanctuaries including Ukraine), Knuthenborg Safaripark (Denmark), the Czech National Heritage Institute (castle bear initiative), and the Korea National Park Service. The foundation is governed by a board and led by Director Ingrid Vermeulen, with no parent entity, subsidiaries, or commercial ownership structure.

Name

Bears in Mind

Legal name

Stichting Bears in Mind

Website

https://bearsinmind.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1993

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Stichting Bears in Mind is a Dutch charitable foundation, founded 1993 in Rhenen, that rescues captive bears, operates the Het Berenbos sanctuary at Ouwehands Dierenpark, funds bear conservation projects across 35 countries, and runs the Bear Alert reporting platform and donation programs for individual and corporate supporters.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Wildlife Conservation Services

akta.pro primary industry

Animal Shelters & Adoption Services (BPAGAIAA)

Keywords

• Bear welfare
• Wildlife conservation
• Animal rescue
• Bear sanctuary
• Nonprofit foundation

Headquarters

HQ city

Rhenen

HQ country

Netherlands

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Donations: Individual donors contribute one-time or recurring donations (monthly/annually). The foundation receives tax benefits for periodic gifts up to 49.50% back from the Dutch tax authority.
2. Bear Adoption Programs: People can adopt a bear, Malayan bear, or wolf for a contribution that supports their care.
3. Merchandise Sales: Sale of bear-related merchandise including books like 'Wij, beren' and other branded items through the webshop at berengoed.nl.
4. Event Fundraising: Organizing events like the Beregoeie Run (sponsor run through the zoo) and Beregoeie Reis (crowdfunding for bear rescue missions).
5. Bear Forest Parcel Sales: Selling parcels of the Bear Forest (Berenbos) to supporters who want to contribute to land preservation.
6. Corporate Partnerships: Business donations and sponsorship packages for the Beregoeie Run event.

Pricing tiers

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

Bears in Mind is a Dutch nonprofit foundation that rescues bears from cruel conditions (bile farms, circuses, private ownership), operates Het Berenbos — a brown bear sanctuary at Ouwehands Dierenpark in Rhenen — and funds international bear conservation projects across 35 countries. The foundation also runs the Bear Alert reporting platform, donation and adoption programs, fundraising events, and educational publications.

Product overview

Bears in Mind is a Dutch charitable foundation that operates primarily as an organization rather than a technology product company. Its core offerings include Het Berenbos, a bear sanctuary at Ouwehands Dierenpark for rescued bears, and Bear Alert, an online reporting platform for bears in distress. Supporting services include De Berekrant newsletter, the Beregoeie Reis crowdfunding platform for rescue missions, the Beregoeie Run fundraising event, the 'Wij, beren' children's book, and the Berengoed.nl webshop. The organization focuses on bear rescue, rehabilitation, conservation, education, and awareness.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Het Berenbos
• Bear Alert
• Beregoeie Reis
• Beregoeie Run
• Wij, beren (Children's Book)
• Berengoed.nl Webshop

Quantifiable outcome

• 36 bears rescued and provided with better living conditions
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

30 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Ouwehands DierenparkcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1993Long-standing partnership since 1993 establishing Het Berenbos as a sanctuary for rescued brown bears. Bears in Mind provides expertise and funding while Ouwehands provides the physical location and operational support.
• IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBears in Mind is a member of IUCN and participates in international conservation efforts. Collaborates on bear research and protection initiatives.
• EAZA (European Association of Zoo & Aquaria)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBears in Mind holds membership in EAZA, the European zoo association, supporting best practices in animal welfare.
• EARS (European Alliance of Rescue Centers & Sanctuaries)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMember of the European alliance connecting rescue centers and sanctuaries for collaborative animal welfare efforts.
• International Association for Bear Research & ManagementminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProfessional organization dedicated to bear research and management that Bears in Mind collaborates with.
• GlobeGuardsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerConservation organization that Bears in Mind partners with for environmental protection initiatives.
• LCIE (Large Carnivore Initiative for Europe)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEuropean initiative focused on large carnivore conservation that Bears in Mind supports.
• Animals Asia Foundation (AAF)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSince 2006, Bears in Mind has financially supported AAF's bear rescue centers in China and Vietnam, contributing to facilities for bears freed from bile farms.
• FOUR PAWS (International Animal Welfare Organization)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner through EARS network. FOUR PAWS operates berenwoud Domzhyr in Ukraine where Bears in Mind temporarily housed rescued bears before transport to Het Berenbos.
• Natuurhulpcentrum (Belgium)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBelgian wildlife rescue center that temporarily housed rescued bear Trishka from Kazakhstan before finding a permanent home.
• Stiftung für Bären (Germany)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGerman bear foundation that co-developed the Bear Alert platform. Collaboration on bear welfare initiatives including castle bear projects in Czech Republic.
• Free the BearscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSoutheast Asian bear conservation partner. Bears in Mind supports their Luang Prabang Wildlife Sanctuary and rescued 18 bear cubs from illegal wildlife trade in Laos.
• Knuthenborg Safaripark (Denmark)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDanish safari park that received 6 former bile bears from South Korea in 2026, the first such transfer to Europe. Bears in Mind coordinated the international rescue operation.
• Korean Animal Welfare Association (KAWA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSouth Korean animal welfare organization that assisted in the rescue of bile bears from Korean bear farms.
• Dyrenes Beskyttelse (Denmark)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDanish Animal Protection organization that collaborated on the South Korea bile bear rescue project.
• Korea National Park ServicecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSouth Korean government agency involved in the bear rescue operation and bear farm closure.
• Cargolux AirlinesminorOthersCargo airline that provided free transport for rescued bears from South Korea to Denmark.
• Zoologistics (Schiphol)minorOthersLogistics company at Schiphol Airport that facilitated transport of rescued bear Trishka from Kazakhstan.
• ZootransferminorOthersAnimal transport service (also a veterinarian) that transported rescued bears from Ukraine and other locations to Het Berenbos.
• Globalink (Kazakhstan)minorOthersLocal agent in Kazakhstan that assisted with logistics for Trishka's rescue from Kazakhstan.
• FlyFaunaminorOthersAnimal transport company handling documentation at Frankfurt Airport for Trishka's transit.
• SPOTScoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDutch foundation collaborating on research into illegal wildlife trade, investigating criminal networks trading in Traditional Chinese Medicine products containing endangered species.
• IUCN NLcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDutch chapter of IUCN that collaborated on investigation into illegal wildlife trade and Traditional Chinese Medicine products in the Netherlands.
• Earth League International (ELI)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational authority investigating criminal networks behind wildlife crime, collaborated on research into illegal TCM trade.
• CZZS - Center for Environment (Bosnia)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBosnian NGO collaborating since 2018 on bear rescue center development. Conducted national survey of captive bears in Bosnia and working on establishing a bear sanctuary.
• NPÚ (National Heritage Institute, Czech Republic)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCzech National Heritage Institute signed memorandum in 2024 to end keeping bears in castle moats. Partnership to improve conditions for castle bears in Czech Republic.
• Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre (BSBCC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMalaysian conservation center researching Malayan sun bears. Bears in Mind funds research using iDNA methods to monitor wild populations.
• WCB Research Lab (India)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndian research laboratory conducting study on lip bear denning behavior in Gujarat, funded by Bears in Mind since 2025.
• Monitor Conservation Research SocietycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOrganization conducting research on illegal bear trade. Bears in Mind funded their assessment of CITES implementation regarding bear protection.
• Ouwehand Zoo FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFoundation supporting Ouwehands Dierenpark that co-organizes the Beregoeie Run and supports bear conservation projects.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW): Global nonprofit working on animal welfare and conservation policy. A larger incumbent with overlapping international wildlife trade and habitat protection work relevant to Bears in Mind's CITES and illegal trade initiatives.
• Born Free Foundation: UK-based international animal welfare and conservation charity with broader species scope. A larger incumbent that competes for wildlife donor dollars and offers a benchmark for European wildlife charity scaling.
• World Animal Protection: Global animal welfare organization with operations across continents. Operates broadly in wildlife protection including bear-related campaigns, making it a broader competitor for international donor attention.

Direct peers

• Libearty Bear Sanctuary: Romania's largest bear sanctuary rescuing captive and mistreated bears. Operates a similar permanent sanctuary model to Het Berenbos in Eastern Europe with comparable EUR-zone fundraising dynamics.
• Free the Bears: Southeast Asian bear conservation organization operating the Luang Prabang Wildlife Sanctuary. Bears in Mind funds its work and collaborated on the rescue of 18 bear cubs from illegal wildlife trade in Laos.
• Wildlife SOS: India-based organization with active bear rescue and sloth bear conservation programs, including the famous 'dancing bear' rescue legacy. Directly comparable mission to Bears in Mind's work on captive bear welfare.
• FOUR PAWS International: Global animal welfare organization operating bear sanctuaries in Europe (including Ukraine and Germany) and rescue operations. Partner of Bears in Mind through the EARS network and a direct counterpart in European bear rescue with overlapping operational scope.
• Stiftung für Bären: German bear foundation that co-developed the Bear Alert platform with Bears in Mind. Operates castle bear projects in Czech Republic and is a direct peer in bear welfare advocacy and reporting infrastructure.
• Animals Asia Foundation: Operates bear rescue centers in China and Vietnam for bears freed from bile farms. Bears in Mind has financially supported AAF since 2006, making it the closest mission-aligned counterpart in bile bear rescue.

Emerging players

• Bear Conservation: UK-based bear conservation organization focused on wild bear species in Asia and South America. A smaller, more research-focused emerging peer with overlapping species focus but smaller operational scale.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/StichtingAlertis
• Facebookfacebook.com/Bears-in-Mind-265950730143345
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/bears-in-mind
• Instagraminstagram.com/bearsinmind

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Bears in Mind