Rescued from traffickers as a cub - Bradley’s grown up big and strong at Animals Asia’s Vietnam sanctuary but at heart he’s the same laid back cutie he ever was - and we’ve got proof!

These pictures are taken five years apart but there’s no mistaking Bradley - he’s a big boy now but the pose is the same and so is his love of the easy life.

Bradley arrived in 2011 when Animals Asia’s rescue team travelled to Vietnam’s central highlands to rescue two cubs confiscated from traffickers - Bradley and sister Cintron.

Then poor, scared Bradley weighed just 2.6kg - a far cry from his 147kg bulk today. While he may have changed outwardly his habits remain the same and he’s not quite ready to turn his back on his childhood toys - he still loves his hessian sack.

Bear manager Louise Ellis said:

“Bradley is quite a gentle bear who is often seen playing with the other bears in the house, but particularly likes to spend time foraging for his favourite foods, of which there are many. He enjoys his creature comforts and still loves to lounge on the hammocks in the enclosure whilst playing with his favourite toy - a hessian sack. He'll often take the sack into the pool in the enclosure and wallow around with his soggy wet toy, enjoying the sun.”

Without a safe area in the wild to release bears like Bradley it’s likely that he’ll spend his life at Animals Asia’s sanctuary in Tam Dao. Having grown up without a mother he’s never had anyone to teach him how to be a bear in the wild. But these toys are part of an enrichment plan to keep him active, happy and satisfied every single day.

Vietnam Bear and Vet Team Director Heidi Quine said:

“Toys, an ever changing enclosure, tastes, smells, puzzles, rotating and seasonal foods - they are all planned out to ensure that each day is different. Each day food is hidden around their enclosure to encourage foraging, exercise and interest and then there’s the company of the other bears - surely the best entertainment of all.”

Animals Asia has rescued almost 600 bears from the bile trade in China and Vietnam and continues to care for nearly 400 at sanctuaries in the two countries.

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