Since being rescued from a bear bile farm, Bazan and Wendles have learned to play, now they step outside together for the first time.

Moon bears Bazan and Wendles spent years side-by-side in metal cages on a bear bile farm, unable to touch, play and be together.

But just two months after being rescued from a lifetime of torture, the two bears were playing together like loving siblings.

Now they’ve made another huge step in their recovery from cruelty – being brave enough to step into the outside world, a place they have never been.

Animals Asia Vietnam Bear and Vet Team Director Heidi Quine said:

“Every bear is an individual and they all recover from the trauma of bear bile farming differently. Some bears take many months – and even years – to be ready to go outside. To them, the space is huge, the touch of grass is unfamiliar and even the sky above can be a thing of terror. But in their own time they all learn to trust, and before long, love being outside.

“Bazan and Wendles have amazed us all with the relative fearlessness they’ve shown since being rescued. Despite all they have endured they are trusting and curious. They immediately made friends and we quickly realised they were ready to explore their new homes as soon as possible.”

Bazan and Wendles were rescued from a bear bile farm in Vietnam’s Gia Lai province in April this year. On the farm they were kept for more than a decade in tiny, solitary cages with no stimulation, fed an unsuitable diet and subjected to regular, painful bile extractions.

Animals Asia Bear Manager Sarah van Herpt said:

“These bears have just been amazing. Bazan especially knows no fear, foraging far and wide throughout the enclosure on the very first day. Her confidence is infectious, and although Wendles is more hesitant, Bazan’s example is giving her the courage to explore her new home.

“Bazan and Wendles are such a confident, curious, outgoing, playful pair that we are already looking forward to integrating them with a community of bear friends. They are way ahead of schedule in terms of their rehabilitation and I’ve just loved seeing them grow and emerge as individuals in the short time they’ve been with us.”

Bear bile farming has been technically illegal in Vietnam since 1992. Sadly, bear bile farming persists in the country due to legal loopholes and a lack of resources to enforce the law.

To date, Animals Asia has rescued nearly 600 bears – mostly from the bear bile industry – in Vietnam and China. Today around 400 bears continue to live new lives, free from fear and pain, at our sanctuaries in Chengdu, China and Tam Dao, Vietnam.

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