From World Animal Protection

After 13 years in captivity Five Asiatic black bears have been rescued from horrific abuse to which they were subjected by the exploitation of bear bile. Abuse of captive bears for their bile is one of the worst examples of animal cruelty in the world today.

The farmer who had the bears in captivity was persuaded by Education for Nature Vietnam (ENV), with the support of World Animal Protection, local authorities and the Vietnamese government to release the bears. ENV and its partners secured a safe haven for bears, which are now officially on its way to live their lives in the Vietnam Bear Sanctuary of Animals Asia Foundation in Tam Dao, near Hanoi. ENV, World Animal Protection and our partners will continue to work until there are no bears on bile farms in Vietnam.

For more than a decade, the bears were forced to live in small cages, hungry, dehydrated and suffered from multiple diseases. They were forced into captivity with severe pain and psychological distress for a liquid in the gallbladder used in traditional medicine.

Dr. Karanvir Kukreja, Director of World Animal Protection Campaign says: “There is no human way to extract bile from a live bear, suffer severe pain and psychological distress throughout his life in captivity”.

“We’re helping to start moving the bears in Vietnam to a safe place, it will take years to recover from psychological stress and trauma they have endured, but we are pleased that these bears live their lives in peace and free from more suffering.”

 Dung Nguyen, Vice Director of Education for Nature Vietnam says:

“These five bears take us one step closer to our goal of ending bear farming in Vietnam, once and for all. The bear farming is in its final stages and the finish line is in sight

“ENV and our coalition partners are working hard to accelerate our plan to end bear farming by 2020 is an achievable reality
In Vietnam, although it is legal ‘hold’ bears it is illegal to extract bile from live animals or raise bears for commercial purposes, but this law applies poorly and there are about 780 captive bears living on farms exploitation of bear bile.

Dr. Jan Schmidt-Burbach, Global Advisor World Wildlife Animal Protection says: ” It is disappointing to see recently released misleading statements that bear farming could contribute to the preservation of bears.

“The vast majority of bears on farms in Vietnam come from nature and breeding of bears in Asia has a detrimental effect on bears in the wild to maintain demand for bear bile and bear parts. Resources for conservation should go directly to the protection of wild animals and educating consumers on alternatives to products that contain parts of wild animals ”

World Animal Protection and ENV have been working for more than a decade to end the suffering and exploitation of captive bears in Vietnam, and at the same time ensure that no new bear ends in captivity, but remain in their natural habitat where they belong.

In addition to helping the government and bears with microchip captive to stop the entry of new bears to the system and allow the confiscation of these new bears to shrines, organizations are working to ban the breeding of bears for their bile in Vietnam to no new bear from the horrible abuse bile farming again.

• Bear bile is believed to treat abscesses, hemorrhoids, epilepsy and cysts. Although there is no medical evidence to support this, and synthetic and herbal alternatives are available, the industry has continued to grow over the past 36 years poaching leading to fewer bears in the wild.
• We are committed to ending the exploitation of bears in industry bear bile, and protect wild bears from a life of suffering in captivity. Our work includes:

• Joining with partners, including governments, global agencies, local partners and individuals to prevent bears from being exploited and create lasting change
• Promote better welfare for captive bears, as we move forward to end the industry forever bear bile
• Search laws, policies, monitoring and implementation of these measures to ensure that captive bears have room to move, and provide richer environments are protected against all forms of extraction and exploitation of bile
• Raise awareness about alternatives to bear bile, including herbal and synthetic products, which are available, are inexpensive and effective

• Working with local organizations to urge governments to fulfill their international commitments to protect bears and other wildlife.

About World Animal Protection

World Animal Protection is a global non – governmental organization based in London, who for 50 years working for the protection and welfare of animals. With 14 offices worldwide, including in Costa Rica and Brazil, working in more than 50 countries worldwide in four main areas: the welfare of farm animals, animals in disaster situations, animals and animal communities wild. Is the only animal welfare NGO enjoying consultative status with the United Nations. In addition, it is an ally of the OIE (World Organization for Animal Health) and has representation in European institutions.