Asiatic black bear breaks free from captivity after two decades

13/11/2023

Thank you for being part of the reason bears in captivity have a second chance at life. Na, a sweet Asiatic black bear whose name means ‘custard apple’ was successfully transferred by FOUR PAWS to their sanctuary from a Vietnamese bile farm that you, together with Vietnam’s Forest Protection Department, helped monitor since 2019.

With your help and our partners’ ongoing efforts, we will work to ensure that help can reach bears suffering in captivity before it’s too late.

Image credit: World Animal Protection / One Touch Connections

Na the bear was forced to spend twenty years of her life in extremely poor captive conditions on a bile farm in Ho Chi Minh City province in Vietnam.

Thanks to your tireless support for our extensive bile farm monitoring programme and our partners’ efforts, the farmer was successfully persuaded to surrender Na to FOUR PAWS bear sanctuary in Ninh Bin last month.

Na will now finally live a life where she has proper veterinary care, space to roam and forage, bathe in the sun, and play in a semi-wild environment along with 45 other Asiatic black bears. A life worth living.

Phuong Le Duy, Vietnam Consultant, World Animal Protection, said:

“We are delighted that Na will be given a chance to live a life free from cruelty. She was kept in cruel conditions for over 20 years, unable to see light, fresh air or simply roam around in the wild where she belongs. We will continue to work tirelessly with our partners to support the release of more bears and give them a better life.”

Ursa Na na gaiola de transporte, durante sua transferência para o santuário

Image credit: World Animal Protection / One Touch Connections

The FOUR PAWS bear sanctuary ensures every rescued bear lives the highest quality of life with their dedicated team of professionals looking after their every little need. The sanctuary stands as a beacon of hope for more bears like Na.

Barbara van Genne, Director of the Wild Animals Department, FOUR PAWS, said:

“Our team has been working tirelessly during the last months to make the rescue of Na happen, and we are glad that she is finally in our care. She was calm during the transfer and is doing well. She suffers from multiple severe health issues commonly seen in bile bears, such as chronic osteoarthritis, dental, liver and heart disease. Moreover, Na will have to have surgery for suspected glaucoma in one of her eyes. Our experienced team at BEAR SANCTUARY Ninh Binh will now provide her with all the care she needs. Na’s story is a reminder that bears are still suffering on bear farms in Vietnam. Help often comes too late as many die alone and in pain. The Vietnamese authorities must swiftly close all remaining bear farms to give as many bears as possible a second chance at a better life.”

Na wordt geopereerd aan haar tanden

Image credit: World Animal Protection / One Touch Connections

While it’s a happy ending for Na, unfortunately, five of her fellow bears lost their lives before they could be rescued. But with your help and our partners’ ongoing efforts, we will work to ensure that help can reach bears suffering in captivity before it’s too late.

Together, we can make this the last generation of bears to suffer in the barbaric bear bile trade.

Bile bear in Vietnam
Bears at Libearty
Bear on a bile farm, China