On May 20th, as the in-country COVID-19 related travel restrictions eased, our local Vietnamese team were able to make the 60 km journey to rescue two 18-year-old bears from a private backyard and bring them to our BEAR SANCTUARY Ninh Binh. The owner has had the bears, Cuc and Nhai since they were just cubs, and sadly both the bears have spent their lives in tiny, dirty metal cages. Sadly this is not uncommon in Vietnam, where around 400 bears area are still being kept in private keeping and abused for their bile, despite the demand for bear bile for healing purposes is, reportedly declining. 

The owner of the bears voluntarily gave up the care of the bears after being asked by the authorities,  FOUR PAWS were then asked to take over the bears rescue and care. The initial health checks of the bears went smoothly, and the bears coped very well with the transport to the sanctuary. When they arrived, they thoroughly enjoyed being showered by the team due to the high humidity. Both bears have to undergo a quarantine period of three weeks where they will receive a specialised and intensive veterinary treatment and species-diet to boost their immune system. They are also supplied with an extensive enrichment programme for their mental stimulation.