Thanks to the efforts of thousands of supporters around the world, the battle to save the Halong Bay bears has been won.

Now an even bigger challenge begins, getting these 38 bears home from Quang Ninh province safely and providing care for the rest of their lives.

Following #BearSeaRescue, where two moon bears where safely brought home from a remote island on the outskirts of the Bai Tu Long Bay archipelago, it’s two down and 36 to go as Animals Asia begins planning how to get such a large number of bears back from 17 different locations in less than two months.

36 bears, 17 locations, two months

Tuan Bendixsen, Animals Asia Vietnam director:

“Logistically this is an extremely trying exercise for Animals Asia’s rescue teams. Just a single rescue can leave a team of drivers, vets, vet nurses, bear workers and logistics experts exhausted, but the time constraints on the mission to evacuate the surviving bears in Quang Ninh province means that the team may well have to make multiple rescues every week for two months.

“Rescue teams intend to visit multiple farms during each rescue, meaning that the duration of a rescue may well be drawn out over many days. As the primitive facilities at most bear farms require the animals to be anaesthetised for safe transfer, it’s extremely difficult to plan how many locations can be visited on a single day. However, what’s clear is that the welfare of the animals will remain paramount throughout.” 

How you can help: Getting these bears home takes time, dedication and resources. Donate to the cost of the rescues via our website and help us get these long-suffering bears home safely.

Veterinary care, operations and rehabilitation

Animals Asia’s Senior Vet Joost Philippa:

“Undoubtedly, many of the rescued bears will be sick and suffering from a litany of ailments common in bears that have suffered extended periods of captivity and bile extraction. Blinding cataracts, extensive dental problems requiring surgery, heart conditions, arthritic joints, liver and gall bladder damage and obesity or malnutrition are just some of the issues that we can expect to encounter.

Once the physical symptoms have been dealt with, the team will also have to deal with the psychological trauma which bile farmed bears experience. Integration into communities of other bears, the slow introduction of progressively larger spaces and learning to trust their human carers are just some of the mental issues that rescued bears have to overcome.

How you can help: You can help a bear regain their health by providing for their medical care. Just follow this link and select Vet Care. Alternatively, you can support abdominal surgery on a bile farmed bear by selecting Gall Bladder Surgery as your gift to a bear.

Space and construction

Tuan Bendixsen, Animals Asia Vietnam Director:

“Despite having completed the construction of two double bear houses just seven months ago, the 38 new residents will take Animals Asia’s Vietnam sanctuary beyond maximum capacity.

“While the exact number of bears which can be housed in each enclosure depends on how the bears interact with each other, sanctuary staff estimate that up to 16 bears will not have access to outdoor areas until two new bear houses are completed.

“To meet this demand, construction plans will need to be accelerated, as will efforts to find the funding for such costly expenditure.

“For staff on site, caring for bears without outdoor access is extremely challenging, as it requires extra effort to keep the bears stimulated and to provide exercise in a reduced indoor environment. The team will do everything in their power to improve the bears’ welfare in their spacious dens, and the recently rescued bears will undoubtedly enjoy a quality of life many times that of their lives to date - even before the construction of outdoor areas are complete.” 

How you can help: Help us keep the bears stimulated during quarantine by purchasing a Gift for the Bears. From fruit smoothies to fruity ice blocks, there are plenty of gifts to choose from the bears will just love.

Many mouths to feed

Annemarie Weegenaar, Animals Asia Bear & Vet Team Director Vietnam:

“A single moon bear eats up to 5kg of fruit and vegetable per day. With the sudden – and delightful – arrival of 38 new fruit aficionados the team will have to source, pay for and prepare an extra 190kg every single day.

“It’s a huge undertaking to which Animals Asia is absolutely committed for the natural lifespan of these precious animals. With the backing of incredible supporters all around the world, we can give these deeply ill treated bears a taste of the life that was stolen from them and which they absolutely deserve.”

How you can help: By joining our Sponsor a Bear programme, you can help give a bear all the care they so desperately need – from on-going veterinary care and monitoring, nutritional food and medicine, healthy treats and rehab toys – to help rekindle their natural behaviour.

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