We’ve had some shocking news. After working so hard over so many years to build a world-class sanctuary for the bears rescued from Vietnam’s bile farms, we are being asked to leave.
On Friday 5 October, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) informed Animals Asia that the Ministry of Defence had issued an order to evict the entire sanctuary operation and its 104 rescued bears. There is no justification for this.
It’s believed the park director, Do Dinh Tien, lobbied the Ministry of Defence to evict Animals Asia, so he can hand the land to Truong Giang Tam Dao Joint Stock Company, of which his daughter is part-owner. The company intends to build commercial property including a tourist park and hotels.
The closure would see 104 bears that have been rescued from the bile industry evicted, 77 local Vietnamese staff made unemployed, and financial losses to Animals Asia of more than US$2 million.
After years of trauma from being locked up in small cages and milked for their bile, our bears are now enjoying dens, enclosures and friends to play with. These bears will be forced to return to cages to be relocated. This will have a major negative impact on their mental and physical well-being. It is likely to take at least two years to establish a new centre with outdoor enclosures.
What we’re doing
We’re fighting this eviction notice every step of the way, appealing directly to the Vietnamese authorities, enlisting help from the international community, the media and other NGOs. But most of all we need your help.
How you can help
Please write to the Prime Minister of Vietnam, and appeal to him to allow Animals Asia’s Vietnam bear sanctuary, which he previously approved and endorsed, to continue operations, and expand, in line with the government’s original agreement.
1. Email Prime Minister Mr Nguyen Tan Dung
Alternatively, to mail/fax the Prime Minister click here
3. Spread the word
Tweet the following or a similar message:
Save Animals Asia’s Vietnam Sanctuary #StopTheEviction
animalsasia.org/StopTheEviction
*** SAMPLE LETTER *** to Copy and Send (By Diana)
Email Prime Minister Mr Nguyen Tan Dung
Alternatively, to mail/fax the Prime Minister click here
To
Nguyễn Tấn Dũng, Prime Minister
Socialist Republic of Vietnam
Office of the State
1 Bach Thao
Hanoi, Vietnam
Dear Honourable Prime Minister Nguyễn Tấn Dũng,
I would like to plead for the preservation of the Moon Bear Sanctuary established by Animals Asia at the Dao National Park, as per the agreement between your government and Animals Asia in 2005.
Apparently, the Ministry of Defence has declared the area of “national defence significance” and that is given as the official reason. However, the management of the Tam Dao National park seems to have an active interest in developing this land into an “eco tourism park” with hotels, and I am sure you agree that an area considered of “national defence significance” – if that were the case – should not at the same time be turned into an “eco” merry-go-round for affluent holiday makers.
So something, clearly, is amiss here.
If the erection of a holiday village does not collide with national security, then surely the established sanctuary does not either.
And there is really no reason why the two could not exist – and fruitfully so – side by side.
I am sure a compromise could be found, without going through with this eviction of the sanctuary, and the bears, which, after all, would be in direct violation of the Vietnam government’s agreement with Animals Asia, to develop a rescue centre on 12 hectares of the park that would permanently rehabilitate and house 200 endangered bears rescued from the illegal bear bile industry.
The closure of this facility, erected with so many people’s donations and good wishes, would mean abject misery for 104 rescued bears, send 77 Vietnamese staff into unemployment, and deplete Animals Asia’s much-needed funds by some US$2 million.
I beg you urgently therefore to reconsider and make sure your government’s agreement with Animals Asia, and the bears, is honoured.
Thank you.
Yours sincerely,
Your Name and nationality
THANK YOU
Filed under: CAMPAIGNS - Global Animal Welfare Issues, GENERAL NEWS - International / National / Regional, LETTERS |
Serbian Animals Voice (SAV) 
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