Investigations

We conduct thorough investigations at zoos, safari parks and entertainment facilities across Asia to identify animal welfare concerns. Our findings are reported to the management of these facilities and government authorities, enabling us to work together to improve conditions and implement ethical and humane practices. The evidence collected during our investigations and the comprehensive reports we produce are used to influence positive regulatory change, promoting better standards for animal welfare across the region.

Leveraging our in-house expertise in captive animal welfare, we provide specialised care and healing for rescued animals and our team also advises on ethical tourism practices to ensure sustainable and responsible interactions with wildlife.

Findings

In 2010, following our investigation into animal performances, the government ministry responsible for the management of Chinese zoos issued a directive to ban the use of wild animals in such performances, while ensuring prioritising animal welfare in the zoos and increasing nationwide awareness of animal protection: The Guidance on Further Strengthening the Regulation of Zoos

In 2017, we published our report "Animals in Circuses in Vietnam - 2017," revealing that hundreds of wild animals, including endangered species, are forced to perform unnatural and humiliating tricks at zoos and circuses across the country. Our findings highlighted wildlife trafficking as a significant concern, as many of the animals in these circuses — such as macaques, elephants, gibbons, and bears — were undocumented with unknown origins.

During months of on-the-ground research, Animals Asia’s investigators observed visible signs of poor welfare among the performing animals. These included injuries, dangerously underweight individuals, signs of self-harm, and displays of fear when trainers approached with whips. Our report underscored the urgent need for improved animal welfare standards and regulatory oversight in Vietnam.

In 2021, we released our second report, "Animals in Circuses in Vietnam - 2021", which highlighted the dire animal welfare situation in the country's circuses and zoos. The report revealed that endangered species, such as Asiatic black bears, Asian elephants, gibbons, and Siamese crocodiles, are used in these facilities. These species are listed as "most endangered" by CITES and are categorized as "critically endangered," "endangered," or "vulnerable" on the IUCN Red List, with nearly all populations in decline.

Animals Asia investigators reported several animals in these circuses exhibiting abnormal behaviours. Stereotypic weaving and rocking were observed in captive bears at Hanoi Central Circus and the popular tourist attraction Monkey Island. On Monkey Island, bears were seen rocking, banging their heads against the cage bars, and self-mutilating, while macaques exhibited head twisting and swaying from side to side within their restrictive enclosures. Such stereotypes typically indicate that captive environments compromise animal welfare and may even reflect specific forms of brain dysfunction.

Instigating change

Thanks to Animals Asia’s extensive outreach campaigns over the years, public attitudes towards circuses in Vietnam have dramatically shifted. Schools have begun to refuse attendance at circuses that use wild animals, and over 32,000 Vietnamese people have signed our petition to end the use of wild animals in entertainment.

Since the release of our initial circus report in 2017, many positive steps have been taken by the Vietnamese authorities and the management of these facilities.

The report prompted the Vietnam Ministry of Culture, the government body responsible for entertainment, to instruct some circuses to cease using wild animals in their shows and the Vietnam Circus Federation have made a public commitment to phase out the use of wild animals in circus performances.
As a result, 16 circus shows have completely stopped using animals, and seven shows have ended the use of certain species.
From mid-2018 onwards, some circuses have gradually replaced wild animals with domesticated species, including cats, pigs, buffaloes, and horses. Our team continues to investigate these facilities and monitor the welfare of all animals both wild and domestic .

In 2019, Hanoi Central Circus transferred two illegally captured bear cubs to Animals Asia's care and in 2021, voluntarily handed over their last four performing bears to Animals Asia, thereby ending bear performances in their shows.

Two endangered moon bear cubs safe in sanctuary after rescue from Vietnamese circus
Animals Asia’s Spice of Life rescue brings four bears from circus to sanctuary