When Sam and Simon were rescued from a tiny, dark room and even tinier cages on Ba Mun Island in Vietnam’s Halong Bay, they were both in bad shape.

Simon didn’t recover. He passed away three months later – living just long enough to taste freedom, care and kindness at Animals Asia’s Vietnam sanctuary.

Sam has been recovering slowly but steadily.  She’s gradually starting to find the confidence to explore her new sanctuary home. She lived in a tiny cage next to Simon for many years. Now he’s gone, it’s hard to escape the feeling she’s living for both of them.

It’s a new life she’s learning to grasp with both paws.

After years of neglect, Simon had arrived both blind and lame, with open wounds and brain damage. He never made it outside of his den. In the end, Animals Asia’s bear workers brought grass inside for him.

For just a moment Simon was able to experience a hint of the life that should have been his by right.

Meanwhile Sam has continued to fight - months after her rescue from an island off Halong Bay. It’s possible that in her mind she remained in that cage for a long time.

But she is making progress. She’s just started enjoying her pool, the log pile and there are even moments of sheer joy that fill her rescuers with so much pleasure. There’s more rehabilitation ahead for her and she remains a bear with many health issues – but she has found her freedom. She has made it to her sanctuary.

Animals Asia Bear Manager Kelly Donithan said:

“Sam is a shy bear who has taken a very long time to get comfortable outside. She was the master at bobbing in and out of her den to grab some food and eat it inside alone. Some days, it seemed her progress was so slight that it would take months for her to find comfort in the sunshine and grass.

“Thankfully, it didn’t. One day, Sam strolled right out and decided it was time to investigate the whole enclosure. She’s very much one of those individuals who has their own unique timing on things – given the space and patience, she found the moment where she was ready to take the big leap.

“She currently has her own little enclosure and hasn’t been super friendly with any of her neighbours, but we’ll continue to look for bears who she might find some companionship with. Just recently she started playing through the den bars with a pair of bears living next to her, so we’re hopeful! She has the most adorable little face. She’s very responsive to people and the call of her name, and I really hope we can get her past some of her insecurities so she can share her space and life with at least one other bear.”

Sam and Simon were named after animal activist Sam Simon who helped promote the campaign to release the Halong Bay bears and sadly died before the rescue could take place.

Jill Robinson said:

“I was lucky enough to talk with Sam on his radio show shortly before his death. Despite his illness, he had the most wonderful sense of humour and his own fight and love of animals inspired us all. There’s more than a little of that living on in Sam – she’s a remarkable bear and we love her very much.”

BACK