Home / Environment / Bears Find Freedom: From Cages to Sanctuary in Vietnam
Bears Find Freedom: From Cages to Sanctuary in Vietnam
12 May
Summary
- Two elderly bears rescued from restrictive cages in Vietnam.
- Bears named Oriole and Cuckoo previously underwent bile extraction.
- The rescue is part of a broader effort to end bear bile farming.
Two female Asiatic black bears, Oriole and Cuckoo, have been rescued from a life of confinement in Vietnam and are now preparing for a more liberated existence. Over 20 years old, these bears spent most of their lives in small, barren cages, enduring uncomfortable bile extractions until bear bile farming was banned in the country.
Animals Asia, in collaboration with Vietnamese authorities, facilitated their rescue on April 22, 2026, moving them to the Vietnam Bear Rescue Centre in Bach Ma National Park. This rescue is the third by Animals Asia in 2026, bringing their total rescues to 297.
The bears are currently undergoing medical treatment for conditions like underweight, dehydration, and skin issues, stemming from their former captivity. Following quarantine, they will gradually integrate into the sanctuary's semi-natural enclosures, a testament to decades of work to end bear bile farming.
Animals Asia continues to advocate for the remaining bears in captivity through a letter-writing campaign urging the Prime Minister to transfer them to sanctuaries, aiming to transform Vietnam's legacy of suffering into a model of animal welfare.
