The bear rescue center in Bach Ma received the first 2 bears

On October 2, Animals Asia and the Hanoi Forest Protection Department rescued all 2 bears from a household in Phung Thuong commune, Phuc Tho district, Hanoi. This household voluntarily wrote the transfer application and did not request any funding from the State or other units.

Hanoi Forest Protection Department accompanies all handover procedures and coordinates closely with Animals Asia in rescuing bears, bringing bears to the Vietnam Bear Rescue Center, a newly built facility. at Bach Ma National Park, Thua Thien Hue province.

The two bears have been cared for by their family since 2006 for commercial purposes. Up to now, they have lived in captivity for nearly 20 years, while the natural age of bears is from 30 to 35 years old.

Animals Asia has taken measures to combine the transport cage with the current cage and lure the bears to the cage with their favorite foods such as bananas, dried fruits, jam, condensed milk and honey. Bears have been raised for many years, most of them have lost hair and have streaks of skin loss.

Both bears were very agile, responded well to interactions from the bear care experts, and quickly entered the transport cage. However, only after a specific medical examination when the bears returning to the Rescue Center can veterinarians accurately assess the bears' health condition.

The two bears were named Armstrong (male bear) and Buzz (female bear), the names of the first two astronauts to set foot on the moon, to commemorate the two moon bears, the first two residents of the Vietnam Bear Rescue Center II. Only veterinarians can accurately assess the bear's health status.

Late in the morning of the same day, the rescue team set out to travel nearly 800 km from Phung Thuong to Bach Ma National Park. Every 2 - 3 hours on the road, care staff will check and provide water, banana leaves and feed the bear to ensure good health for the bear. It is expected that the group will return to Bach Ma National Park tomorrow afternoon, on October 3.

These will be the first two bears brought to the Vietnam Bear Rescue Center, Bach Ma National Park facility, Thua Thien Hue province.

Vietnam Bear Rescue Center II has completed construction of phase 1 with facilities, hospital, temporary quarantine area and 2 double bear houses with 4 semi-natural areas.

Animals Asia is launching a worldwide fundraising campaign, with the slogan #Nobearleftbehind, for the goal of rescuing all bears in captive camps in Vietnam.

Thanks to effective advocacy and propaganda, in the last 2 years, Animals Asia and the Hanoi Forest Protection Department have mobilized to rescue 16 bears. This is also the 7th rescue trip in 2023 for Animals Asia.

Previously, from the beginning of this year, 6 black bears from Phung Thuong returned to the Vietnam Bear Rescue Center in Tam Dao National Park. According to information from Forest Ranger District No. 5, Hanoi Forest Protection Department, within the district's management area, Phuc Tho District has 97 captive bears in 15 facilities and the authorities are still campaigning, regularly inspections of bear-raising households.