Vietnam wildlife ambassador and celebrity Thu Minh has highlighted the importance of education in eradicating animal cruelty – citing herself as a prime example.

In a recent interview she admitted that in 2011 a fan sent her bear bile which she used to reduce blisters caused by dancing in a competition in 2011. She now accepts it was a mistake due to her own ignorance on the cruelty and illegality of the bear bile industry.

Three years on, Thu Minh is one of Vietnam’s most vocal defenders of the world’s wildlife. As a representative of United for Wildlife, the celebrity singer stood side by side with the UK’s Prince William and footballer David Beckham to oppose the poaching of African rhinos for the Vietnamese market.

In July this year, Thu Minh visited Animals Asia’s Vietnam Bear Rescue Centre to highlight the horrors of bear bile farming in her own country and to repay a debt to the bears for her previous errors.

 Thu Minh said:

“I used bear bile without hesitation because I didn’t know the heart-breaking stories behind those bear bile bottles. Bears are kept in tiny cages, suffering painful extracting everyday. If I had known these things, I would never have used it."

Animals Asia’s Vietnam Director Tuan Bendixsen said:

“Year by year, less people are using bear bile as they discover the cruelty behind it.  Thu Minh is no different in this respect, except that she went one step further and actively helped campaign against its use.

“The awareness raising that Thu Minh has become a focal point of, is an absolutely key part of ending bear bile farming in Vietnam. And by confronting and admitting her past indiscretions, she is helping others to avoid the same mistakes. For that she deserves our respect and our thanks.”

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