He was caged and alone for nine years in a tiny cage – now Kaffe is recovering in a den with a view of his future play space and friends.

Animals Asia staff believe Kaffe is well on his way to making his first sun bear friends following his rescue from Vietnam’s Dak Lak province.

Since arriving at Animals Asia’s Vietnam Bear Rescue Centre in September, Kaffe has completed his time in quarantine and moved to a den adjacent to fellow sun bears.

Having been kept in isolation as an exotic pet for his entire life (see below), Kaffe will build up his physical and mental strength in preparation for his first meaningful relationships with other bears.

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

“Integrating new bears can be very difficult but Kaffe is showing us he will soon be ready to make this momentous change in his life. I’ve spent time observing his interactions with other bears and have been truly heartened.

“I saw him in his den, while sun bear David was outside in the enclosure. Both boys were pawing at one another and taking turns to flop down, spinning about on their backs while the other playfully swatted at them. The signs so far are very positive and we can’t wait to see him finally outside.”

Kaffe’s playful nature bodes well for the possibility of his future integration with the sanctuary’s existing sun bear population, but staff also believe he may have a positive effect on Annemarie, another recently rescued bear.

Bear Manager Kelly Donithan said:

“Poor Annemarie is still very timid and slowly adjusting to a den – the largest space she has ever known. Each bear is different, and the fact that Kaffe is finding the change easier to deal with could be positive for Annemarie.

“There are never any guarantees but it seems like Kaffe’s personality is going to be a good match for the rest of the group and we’re hoping some of his confidence might rub off on Annemarie.”

For bears rescued from the bile industry, the process of moving from a cage to a den and eventually an outdoor enclosure can be overwhelming.

Animals Asia takes great pains to ensure the transition is as smooth as possible for each rescued bear and tailors their rehabilitation path accordingly.

Every bear progresses at their own speed. Presently, staff remain hopeful that Kaffe will be integrated with a group of fellow sun bears and able to play outside within the coming months.

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