Serbian Animals Voice (SAV)

From cargo containers to freedom for 19 bears

I’m thrilled to be able to bring you the exciting news that yesterday morning we rescued 19 moon bears that have been held in appalling conditions on a farm in Binh Duong province, southern Vietnam. These bears, whose bile was being milked illegally, have been surviving a bleak existence, trapped inside 40ft cargo containers that were divided into even smaller compartments.

This is a particularly exciting rescue for Animals Asia – it is our biggest in Vietnam to date, and it’s also significant because it was instigated by the forestry officials themselves – both the central government’s Forest Protection Department (FPD) and the Binh Duong FPD.

Pictures – AA

Bear bile extraction was made illegal in Vietnam around 15 years ago, but farmers were allowed to keep their bears to display them to tourists. Sadly, around 4,000 bears remain on farms throughout the country, and because of a lack of enforcement, many of them are still subjected to the brutal bile extraction process.

So it’s a huge breakthrough to see the central and local forestry officials working together of their own initiative to confiscate the bears and close down this awful farm. Please let me thank you for your part in this rescue too. It’s taken us many years to get to this stage and to build up such trust with the officials. We couldn’t have done any of it without your ongoing support and kind donations which, together, have enabled us to reach the heart of the problem and bring these bears home.

We still have a long way to go, but this rescue has given us renewed determination and hope. Please stay with us through this important year as we repair the damage inflicted on these poor animals and convince more provinces throughout Vietnam to release their bile bears into our care. Each of these bears needs surgery and extensive rehabilitation. Whatever you can donate to help in their recovery will be greatly appreciated.

Sadly, I won’t be able to meet our 19 new residents until Thursday when I arrive at Tam Dao. But Chinh, our Education Officer in Vietnam, who is part of the team travelling “home” with the bears, is kindly recording the trip. He’ll be sending the first of his Rescue Diary entries soon so you can follow the journey from torture to freedom for these lucky 19 bears – and please, give generously so they can have the life they so much deserve.

For more information, click here.

Bear hugs,

Jill

Jill Robinson MBE
Founder and CEO
Animals Asia Foundation

Filed under: CAMPAIGNS - Global Animal Welfare Issues, GENERAL NEWS - International / National / Regional |