Hai Phong's captive bears population drops to 10

A male Asiatic black bear, kept for over 20 years by Mrs. Pham Thi Hon’s family in Dai Thang Commune, Tien Lang District, Hai Phong City, was successfully rescued by the Hai Phong Crop Production and Forest Protection Sub-Department in coordination with Animals Asia.

Mrs. Hon’s family voluntarily and willingly transferred the bear for humanitarian reasons, without requesting any compensation. The rescue operation was carefully carried out by a team of experts and veterinarians from Animals Asia. The bear was safely anesthetized before being removed from its enclosure, and a preliminary health check was conducted on-site.

After the handover procedures were completed, the bear was safely transported to the Vietnam Bear Rescue Center at Bach Ma National Park. A representative from Animals Asia in Vietnam noted that the bear was in fairly good spirits, alert, and showing natural responses.

After being received, the bear will undergo specialized medical care, rehabilitation, and acclimatization to a semi-wild environment suited to its natural behavior.

According to Mr. Bui Hoang Viet, a representative of the Hai Phong Sub-Department of Crop Production and Forest Protection who directly participated in the rescue, once the case of bear captivity was identified, the agency coordinated with local authorities and Animals Asia to conduct awareness-raising and encouraged the bear owner to voluntarily hand over the animal.

Since 2005, when the nationwide microchipping program for managing captive bears was launched, Hai Phong city was once among the localities with the highest number of captive bears, with over 500 individuals. However, thanks to continued efforts by local authorities, particularly the forest protection force and partner organizations, the number has now dropped to just over 10 bears still kept in captivity by households across the city.

The successful rescue of this bear marks an important milestone, highlighting Hai Phong’s commitment to wildlife protection and contributing to Vietnam’s broader goal of ending bear bile farming entirely by 2026.