It’s been 10 years since Tibetan brown bear Benji came to Animals Asia’s bear sanctuary in China, but he’s happier than ever.

Keeping a bear stimulated and happy for over a decade is no mean feat, but this footage shows exactly why we are so proud of the work that goes on at our sanctuaries 365 days a year.

A constant rotation of enrichment items means he always has a selection of toys to choose from — but sometimes, like here, he prefers to use them all at once.

There are currently four brown bears at our sanctuary in Chengdu, China. Benji arrived with his sister Poupouce, and two other enclosures see Eurasian brown bears Caesar and Iris enjoying their days. As a different species to moon bears, brown bears are housed separately and in different enclosures, with a never-ending cycle of enrichment and healthy treats tailored to their needs­.

Animals Asia Founder and CEO, Jill Robinson MBE said:

“We love Benji to bits. For over a decade the team have worked their socks off to keep him fit, healthy and happy — and this video shows it’s working. We do the same with all the bears at our sanctuaries, because each and every one of them deserves happiness and choices after being denied a natural life in the wild.”

Animals Asia has rescued over 600 bears, mostly from bear bile farms. It continues to care for almost 400 bears in sanctuaries in Vietnam and China.

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