Animals Asia has successfully rescued 13 moon bears and closed six bile farms in Vietnam’s Quang Ninh province as part of a four-day rescue operation.

The marathon rescue saw bears rescued from 10 locations around the province, creating logistical issues that were aggravated by tropical storm Kujira which hit the region on Wednesday.

All 13 bears have been transported back to Animals Asia’s Vietnam Bear Rescue Centre in nearby Tam Dao where they will be rehabilitated and eventually receive access to outdoor enclosures.

The team initially planned to rescue 14 bears, but one rescue had to be postponed when the farmer failed to appear to complete the handover.

Animals Asia’s Vietnam Director Tuan Bendixsen said:

“It has been a very long and stressful week, but we’re delighted to have these 13 bears finally out of the cages which have confined them for a decade or more. It’s a great feeling to have closed down six farms over the last four days, but that is tempered by sadness for those we had to leave behind. They will have to wait a little longer, but rest assured we will be back for them as soon as we have permission from the authorities.”

Local authorities have been ordered to ensure every captive bear in Quang Ninh province is transferred to Animals Asia’s Vietnam Bear Rescue Centre in Tam Dao by end of July as a result of Animals Asia’s successful Save the Halong Bay Bears campaign.

The rescue of 13 bears this week marks the first mass evacuation of bears while Animals Asia has previously rescued three more bears from the province since March.

However, delays in rescuing the remaining 17 bears continue as authorities negotiate with bear owners over transfers. The negotiations are entirely between the Quang Ninh authorities and the bear farmers.

Animals Asia founder and CEO, Jill Robinson MBE said:

“We’re calling them the lucky 13. Thousands of bears have died as a result of the bear bile industry across Asia and hundreds in this province alone. But each life is precious and we’ll continue to save every bear we can. These bears have defied the odds – just as this incredible team has to bring them home.

“We won’t forget the 17 that remain in such grim conditions. Again, we respectfully urge the authorities to complete the transfer of these bears as soon as possible. Please, no more fatalities.”

BACK