Bear Wolf is being exploited by Celia Daniels’ world of modern slavery in the ITV soap

Emmerdale viewers have shared their worries for Bear Wolf’s health as they noted his “rapid decline”.

Over the last few months, viewers were concerned over Bear Wolf’s whereabouts after he told Paddy Kirk he was visiting Ireland to see some old friends.

His disappearance came after there was a shift in his behaviour. Bear admitted to Liam Cavanagh that he was struggling with insomnia, he was becoming increasingly irritable and felt isolated.

After months of him being unseen, it was finally revealed in a standalone episode that he was trapped in the horrific world of modern slavery.

Unfortunately, Bear has been worked to the bone on Celia’s farmland, with many others also being trafficked and treated in an abysmal way.

Trapped in appalling conditions, Bear befriended Anya – a woman who Ruby took in briefly after she was found at the Depot.

Sadly, Anya died following a lack of treatment or help when she fell ill. Bear appeared to be brainwashed by Ray, as he told Anya moments earlier that he knew Ray would do the right thing and get her antibiotics.

Celia instructed Bear and Ray to dig Anya’s grave, and although Ray wondered if Celia had a change of heart, she confirmed that it was an insurance plan.

She used Moira Dingle’s blanket to wrap Anya’s body in, so suspicion would lie on her if the body was to be found in the future.

Bear then tied Anya’s ribbon that she wore around her wrist to a nearby tree.

However, in another episode his granddaughter Eve saw Bear in the field – of course, no one believed her. With him being so close to home, some viewers questioned how he didn’t realise he was in walking distance of the village.

On a Reddit thread, viewers noted his declining health as a factor. u/legendof1983 wrote: “He was suffering with his memory before he left so the simple answer is he’s rapidly declined”.

u/adventurousteach994 added: “Bear was struggling with his mental health and as an elderly man he is clearly suffering from cognitive decline. He is clearly disoriented and is being drugged.”.

Another viewer. u/cheshirechris71 echoed: “He was given the drugs after the arm injury he suffered, presumably his injury is healed as he dug a grave the other day but is now addicted to the pills.”

Emmerdale airs on weekdays at 7:30pm on ITV1 and is available to stream on ITVX.