With Quang Ninh province recovering from the worst flooding in 40 years, fears have been raised that the rescue of the remaining 17 captive bears could be delayed.

As the flood waters from early August recede, the people of Quang Ninh province have begun returning to their stricken homes to try to survey the damage.

At least 17 people are thought to have died in the disaster while many houses were submerged in rivers of mud. The now solidified mass continues to block roads while people try to dig up vehicles and valuable household items such as motorbikes, fridges and washing machines.

Animals Asia's Vietnam Director Tuan Bendixsen said:

“Clearly the province has its hands full dealing with the clean up operation and our thoughts are with the families of those who have lost loved ones or watched their homes or livelihoods be washed away.

“For the remaining bears on Quang Ninh's farms waiting to be rescued it could well mean a longer wait. None of the bears are held in the worst affected areas and we’ve not been told of any issues directly affecting the farms so that’s a relief. We're expecting to hear more in September when the province's infrastructure is once again operational. We remain committed to rescuing the bears as soon as it becomes feasible – both in terms of bureaucracy and logistics.”

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