Sun bear Annemarie was trapped for seven years in a cage so small that she is now struggling to adjust to the larger environment of her new den.

Since being rescued from Vietnam’s Nam Dinh province in August,sun bear Annemarie has passed a period of quarantine and moved to a den. It is 20 metres square square but for this traumatised animal, the space is greater than any she has ever known.

Staff at Animals Asia’s Vietnam Bear Rescue Centre in Tam Dao are doing everything they can to keep the skittish bear calm and help her adapt to the unfamiliarity of freedom. With time, they are confident that a new, bolder Annemarie will emerge.

Animals Asia’s Bear Manager Kelly Donithan said:

“It’s going to take time for Annemarie to get over her agoraphobia. She was kept in a cage she could barely turn round in for so long that her present den must feel enormous. We’re working hard to try to calm her with constant treats, time alone and a quiet environment, but it will take time. We’re also slowly building trust and confidence through bonding exercises that promote a positive relationship between Annemarie and ourselves, as well as the space around her.”

Bears rescued from the bile industry often struggle to overcome the transition to a larger environment due to their extreme confinement over years and decades.

In Annemarie’s case, her cage was so small, rusted and old that she had to be anaesthetised and cut free (pictured below).

Animals Asia has rescued over 600 bears and aims to see every bear eventually able not only to adjust to a den, but to enjoy spacious, outdoor enclosure access too.

Animals Asia’s Bear and Vet Team Director Heidi Quine said:

“Every bear is an individual and they all react differently to the trauma they experience on bile farms. Some are immediately overjoyed to find themselves free of a cage, others – like Annemarie – find it overwhelming. To see an animal in fear is painful to experience, but we know we can help her make the transition with time.

“We’ll do everything we can to help her overcome her fears and her past. We know from experience that cruelty can be overcome and will never give up on an animal in need. There are no absolute guarantees with any bear but we are hopeful that she will one day step outside into the sunshine and put her past behind her.”

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