Happy #moonbearmonday everyone!

Seen here foraging for food in Animals Asia’s Chengdu Bear Rescue Centre is beautiful moon bear Jonah.

A victim of the bear bile industry, Jonah’s spine is permanently curved and he still bears the scars from the full metal jacket he was needlessly forced to wear for so many years.

Full metal jackets – permanent metal casing holding a long catheter from the bears’ gall bladder to a fluid bag which collects their bile – are one of the bear bile industry’s most horrific inventions

But despite his brutal past, Jonah showed he is in good health during his latest health check.

A visiting team of specialist ophthalmologists from the UK’s Animal Health Trust checked his eyes finding them to be stable with no degeneration or evidence of high blood pressure – an ailment we often find in former bile farm bears.

His body may creak a bit more than it used to and he may be able not tear around the enclosure quite as much as he’d like to, but Jonah has overcome his curved spine and history of torture – emerging able bodied and medication free.

Bear and Vet Team Director Nic Field said:

“Jonah is a beautiful boy with a glossy coat. It is always a pleasure to see him in his enclosure with his housemates. Our resident Veterinarian Mandala reports his recent health check went very well – most of Jonah’s results were normal while two fractured premolar teeth were removed which should make him even more comfortable in the future. After the check up, it wasn’t long till he was back out in the enclosure foraging and playing with his friend Peter.”

Happy #moonbearmonday everyone!

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