Tear-jerking moment black bear kept in cage for 30 years gets his first taste of freedom

This is the incredible moment an adult black bear is seen enjoying the great outdoors after spending three decades cooped up in a cage.

Footage shared by the The Wild Animal Sanctuary in Keenesburg, Colorado shows the recently rescued bear splashing and swimming in a tank of water. 

The nonprofit refuge sanctuary noted that the male bear had spent the past 30 in a small cage with nothing to do but pace back and forth. 

As expected, once this stereotypical behavior was complete, he would have little choice but to lay down and slumber for the next 18-20 hours, the organization wrote in a lengthy social media post detailing the animals life before being freed.

If he was lucky, on a good day, some unexpected event would unfold while he and the other animals living in small cages would get to watch. 

Footage shared by the The Wild Animal Sanctuary in Keenesburg, Colorado shows the recently rescued bear splashing around inside a 1,000-gallon tank of water

The sanctuary explained that it was clear the bear was forced to live a sedentary life.

As a cub, he was likely given lots of attention and was allowed to romp and play freely, the nonprofit said. But as the bear grew, he was no longer allowed to leave the confines of his cage. 

And when it came to enjoying more natural things – such as water – it was clear he had little access other than to a small bowl that his keepers would replenish on a daily basis, the organization said.

So the sanctuary set up a 1,000-gallon tank of water for him to play inside. 

We knew in our hearts that it was going to be a great day! We say this with confidence because we have literally rescued hundreds of bears over the past forty-five years and every single one loved to play in water, the group said.

As a cub, the bear was likely given lots of attention and was allowed to romp and play freely, the nonprofit said. But as he grew, he was no longer allowed to leave the confines of his cage 

So the sanctuary set up a 1,000-gallon tank of water for him to play inside

Within seconds of his discovering the large tank of fresh water, a gigantic splash was heard - which was quickly followed by the sound of sloshing water! Yes, the old Bear had wasted no time and was already inside the tank and going to town!

We could have watched this joyous activity for hours given the feeling it was bringing to our hearts. We were exceptionally happy to see that he was having such a good time… while we also felt entirely grateful for the opportunity to observe this special moment in time. 

Its unclear where the bear was rescued from. 

DailyMail.com has reached out to The Wild Animal Sanctuary for more information about his life at the refuge, which the organization describes on its website as having more than 33,000 acres.

Each of our facilities have incredibly unique programs that rescue animals from horrific captive situations and rehabilitate them so they can live and roam freely within large natural habitats with others of their own kind, the site says. 

It remains unclear where the bear was rescued from

The Wild Animal Sanctuary is a nonprofit charitable organization that intends to prevent and alleviate cruelty to animals who have been left abandoned or were subject to deprivation or neglect through care and boarding.

Volunteers travel the US, Canada, Mexico, Central and South America and other places to rescue captive exotic and endangered large carnivores that have been abused, abandoned, exploited or illegally kept.

According to its website, the sanctuarys goal is to give them a life of dignity and respect and to make their life as it would be if they could choose.