On 22nd February 2023, Animals Asia organisation coordinated with the Hanoi Forest Protection Department to rescue five bears from a household in Phung Thuong commune, Phuc Tho district, Ha Noi. This is the second rescue trip in 2023 by Animals Asia.
As reported, 5 bears have been under captivity by the family since 2002 since they were cubs for commercial purposes. Up to now, they have lived in captivity for more than 20 years, while the natural age of bears is between 30 and 35 years old. Over a period of time, as recommended and persuaded by the 5th Forest Protection Department (Hanoi Forest Protection Department), the bear's family voluntarily wrote a transfer application and wished to bring all 5 bears to the Viet Bear Rescue Center in Tam Dao National Park, Vinh Phuc to take care of.
Animals Asia implemented a method to combine transport cages with existing cages and lure bears to the cage with their favourite foods such as bananas, dried fruit, jam, condensed milk and honey. As the bears have been kept for many years, most of them have lost their fur and have inflamed skin patches. The bears will need to go through a specific physical examination after returning to the Rescue Center so that veterinarians can accurately assess their health status. After being rescued, the 5 bears were named Dawn, Noon, Twilight, Midnight, and Chronos.
(source: Lao dong)
Thanks to effective advocacy and propaganda, in the last 2 years, Animals Asia and Hanoi Forest Protection Department have mobilised to rescue 14 bears. At the beginning of January 2023, the Organisation also rescued 2 bears from Pu Mat National Park, Nghe An to Tam Dao Bear Rescue Center. According to information from Forest Protection Department No. 5, Hanoi Forest Protection Department, in the area under its management, Phuc Tho District still has 116 bears in captivity and the authorities are still mobilising and periodically inspecting them with frequent visits to bear farms.
According to the World Organisation for Animal Protection, Hanoi remains the number one hot spot for bears in captivity, with 149 bears, or 51% of the total number of bears in captivity in Vietnam. The bear population in Phuc Tho district accounts for 93% of the total number of bears in captivity in Hanoi (139 - in 2022), and about 47% of the total number of bears in captivity in Vietnam.
source: the the Internet