Animals Asia’s vet team are set to transform the lives of seven moon bears as they head to Nanning Bear Farm to start a series of intensive health checks and operations.

Last month Animals Asia announced plans to turn the bear farm into a sanctuary - removing bears from tiny cages and concrete cells and building open enclosures. It followed the request of bear farm General Manager Mr Yan who renounced bear bile farming and contacted Animals Asia in order to secure a cruelty free future for the bears.

While planning and construction will take two years, Animals Asia staff are already spending time on site improving diet, hygiene and bear management.

Now they will be joined by a vet team which has already shortlisted the bears they are best able to help. As with most bear bile farms no access to vet care has meant the bears continuing to suffer from an array of ailments. These include severe dental issues – often caused by poor diet, bar biting and teeth being cut – and wider issues including ingrowing claws, eye problems and existing wounds.

Animals Asia originally intended to move 28 bears to their sanctuary in Chengdu where the equipment available would mean they could tackle a range of health issues including removing gall bladders damaged by bile extraction.  However an on-going wait for permits to be approved means vets are now travelling to the bears instead.

The team will arrive the weekend starting and will start the veterinary work from June 2 with the operations expected to last three days.

 Nic Field Animals Asia China’s Bear and Vet Team Director said:

“Plans are being developed to convert Nanning Bear Farm into a sanctuary and in the meantime we are working with the team on site to improve the bears’ daily lives as much as possible. That means providing them with a better diet, more stimulation and, crucially, removing pain. 

“A bear farm is not the ideal place for health checks nor surgery so there are limitations as to what we can address but, for the bears identified, our vet team can directly treat health issues that can change the quality of their lives alleviating pain, discomfort and suffering.  Once the bears are anaesthetised we’ll have a better idea of their overall condition.”

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