One year old bear “Rainbow” tried to chew through her paw to escape a snare in China before she was discovered after being trapped for days.

Her rescuers - Animals Asia were appalled by the state they found her in. With maggots in her flesh, around and inside her mouth and nose, as well as in her paw where she had chewed through her “toes” in a desperate attempt to escape. Her teeth were also damaged due to biting the wire trap.

The team were able to dart the frightened and angry yearling and within minutes she was asleep, allowing them to lift her out of the forest and into the awaiting truck that would take her to the sanctuary and hospital in Chengdu. The rescue took place in the mountainous area of Peng Zhou in Sichuan Province, nearly two hours from Animals Asia’s China Bear Rescue Centre. The team had been alerted by concerned Peng Zhou Forestry officials.

The moon bear youngster was hungry and dehydrated and was believed to have been there for several days. It’s believed she is aged between a year and two years of age.

Rainbow was immediately operated on late that evening after returning to the centre. Once the snare was removed, it was found that the paw was so badly infected and damaged, it was necessary to amputate it. She was named Rainbow by rescuers inspired by the rainbow that formed overhead during the rescue.

Animals Asia founder and CEO Jill Robinson said:

“It’s hard to imagine a more upsetting, tragic sight than this small, vulnerable bear that should still be out in the forest with her mother. It would apear that illegal hunters had laid snares opportunistically for wild animals, and this little bear was unfortunate enough to step into one.

“Rainbow suffered the most horrible ordeal imaginable and it lasted day after day. Her only piece of luck was that caring forestry officials had acted so fast, and that it had happened so close to our sanctuary.”

With sanctuaries in China and Vietnam - Animals Asia cares for almost 600 bears - the vast majority of which have been rescued from the bear bile trade. Of those bears - more than one third are missing limbs as a result of illegal snares.

Animals Asia is investigating the possibility of a wild return for Rainbow – weighing up her chances of survival in the wild against the care she’d receive in a sanctuary.

Jill added: “It is thanks to the Peng Zhou Forestry for acting so quickly and calling us after Rainbow was discovered, that her life has been saved.”

Nic Field, Animals Asia’s Bear and Veterinary Team Director said:

“She is in very good hands. Animals Asia has extensive experience of raising cubs and yearlings and we know through the bears that live with us that she can live a full life without her paw. She is understandably angry and frightened but definitely a fighter. Despite her feistiness she is gaining confidence and trust with each passing day. She is eating well, healing well and taking her medication.

“Each bear rescue is a huge commitment. Even so young, this bear has had so much taken from her by humans. If she cannot be returned to the wild then we’ll do our best to repay a debt to her here and give her the best life imaginable. Rainbow can be fit, healthy and happy again.”

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