Bear Update

Em (rescued July 2020)

The stories of the bears at the Animals Asia Bear Rescue Centre in Vietnam touched the hearts of many back in 2020. 

Animals Asia is devoted to ending bear bile farming and improving the welfare of animals across Asia. They promote compassion and respect for all animals and work to bring about long-term change. 

Over 10,000 bears – mainly moon bears but also sun bears and brown bears – are held in captivity on farms in Asia to have bile extracted from their gall bladders on a regular basis, for profit. 

The medicinally active ingredient of bear bile is ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) and it is used to treat a range of conditions including fever and inflammation by Traditional Chinese Medicine Practitioners. However there are synthesised and herbal alternatives to UDCA readily available.

Most farmed bears are kept in tiny cages, sometimes so small that the bears are unable to turn around or stand on all fours. Some bears are put into cages as cubs and never leave them, existing for up to 30 years under these conditions. 

Often they grow too large to be removed through the cage door upon rescue, and bear the scars of the tight cage bars on their bodies. This not only has a severe impact on their physical health, but also on their psychological well-being.

Moon Bears (Asiatic Black Bears) , Sun Bears and certain Asian Brown Bears are all endangered with their numbers decreasing. This is due to habitat loss and also the demand for bear bile and bear products. All international trade in bile from Asiatic Black Bears, including farmed bile, is illegal under CITES.

17 bears were rescued and given the appropriate care thanks to our support.

We are very grateful to the team at the Vietnam Bear Rescue Centre for providing this update on some of the bears we helped to liberate. 

To find out about this project partnership please visit the Project Archive page here.

Following update and images kindly provided by the Vietnam Bear Rescue Centre (Feb 2023).

Bân, James, and Alice

"When these three young bears were rescued to Vietnam Bear Rescue Centre (VBRC), they showed obvious signs of anxiety and distress. They had each experienced such terrible ordeals, but seeing them improve and blossom each day brings joy and happiness to their carers.

James is a friendly, playful, curious bear who makes friends quickly and always becomes the centre of attention. He enjoys epic wrestling games with the bigger bears Tuan, P.J. and Wilf, and equally shows a gentle touch when playing with the smaller girls like Valerie. Despite being popular with every bear, James is still close to his young rescue buddies, especially the shy, quiet Bân.

When Bân was rescued to the sanctuary, she was one of the shyest girls we’ve known. The team has tried hard to gain her confidence. Over time, her fear has turned into curiosity. She follows people around and enjoys playing with James.

Alice has also made friends at the sanctuary. She loves to join sisters Sugar and Spice in games around the climbing structures and treehouses. "

James back in April 2020 when he was rescued.

Uno (now Uorsin)

Uorsin is a big male bear.  He had been kept in captivity since 2002 when he was just a cub. He was rescued in 2020 at the age of 18 years old.

"Uorsin is housed with five other male bears and has been doing really well. He’s become best friends with Taurus, Angus and Kollo. Uosin and Taurus, two big, chubby bears, spend their time wrestling clumsily and tumbling down together in the semi-wild enclosures. Uorsin especially likes the nylon webbing hammocks where he spends hours resting and recharging after playing and foraging."

Uno after rescue mission in October 2020.

Renamed and renewed - Uorsin (Uno) today, at the Vietnam Bear Rescue Centre.

Hy Vong pictured at the back of the climbing platform.

Chilli Bienchen at the VBRC

Chilli-Bienchen 

"Chilli-Bienchen is an adorable girl with a chubby body who every bear loves in House 1. She is independent and intelligent. Chilli-Bienchen plays with boughs and hangs around with other bears like Saffron (Little Mac), Em, Tieu, Lam. Chilli-Bienchen is a good climber, so it is not surprising to see her climbing up high and enjoying the view from the highest tree in the enclosure."

Cotton Blossom (now Pippa)
Pippa was caged for two decades before her rescue. She had an 1100km journey, the length of Vietnam, to the VBRC.

"Pippa has a very special personality. She loves going out in the open spaces of the enclosure and spends her days relaxing and exploring in the grass. She often stays out over lunch and fails to come back in the evening when recalled to the houses, as she's out foraging for every piece of food she can find. She loves to play with friendly P.J. and Wilf."

Anh and Em
"Anh and Em were rescued as two little cubs in 2020 and have now become the blooming stars of House 1. They are now fully grown healthy bears with beautiful coats. They’re both truly lively and sociable. Anh and Em forage very well, never leaving anything behind. They can not hide their excitement to go outside whenever it's time. Besides foraging and sleeping, they love spending time with their buddies Lam, Tieu, and Tott, and together the games last all day long."

Tott
"Tott is a lovely girl in house 1 who went through some hard times before she settled into the new environment. Tott was a shy girl who used to hide or stand and stare out to the enclosure. However, things have now changed. Thanks to Lam’s companionship and support from the team, Tott has improved significantly and become more confident going outside foraging and playing with other bears such as Anh, Em and her soulmate Lam. The speed of her recovery and the change in her temperament has surprised and delighted the bear carers."

 Lam

"Lam is an energetic boy who loves playing and wrestling as young bears do. He rushes into the enclosure like a gush of wind as soon as he hears the bells. Having a muscular body, he especially enjoys physical activities or chasing games with his friends. As he’s at a growing age, he eats up every morsel of food without being picky. Lam plays games with Anh, Em, Chilli-Bienchen and Little Mac. Even though Lam seems busy being surrounded by other friends, Lam still has a special place in his heart for Tott since they were settled together. With an outgoing and extroverted personality, Lam is truly a boy who surely can be a trusted friend to everyone."

Saffron (now Little Mac)

"Little Mac appears to be a cheerful girl who can play and get along very well with other bears in the same house. She forages well and eats everything up. Little Mac is close to Tieu. Not long ago, like a scene in a movie, Tieu was spotted with his paws wrapped around Little Mac, giving him a giant back hug. Mac’s favourite toy is the ball, she lies on her back and skillfully spins the ball with both front and hind legs like a true performer."

Tieu

"Little Tieu does everything at her own pace and rests peacefully in the cooler spots of the enclosure. Although she is the smallest in the house, Tieu is not afraid to do anything. She climbs, rolls and plays with all the structures in the space. Tieu usually stays close to her best friend Little Mac and enjoys playing together. Sometimes, Tieu can be seen playing more intensely with Anh, and Em and does not seem to be humbled by them at all."

Uno & Wilf