Last four bears at Hanoi Central Circus rescued

According to the Vietnam Circus Federation, the four bears are female and their health conditions are stable. Each bear weighs 60kilogram. The handover is the result of the adjustment of using animals in performances, replacing wild animals  with trained and farmed animals in performances.

The four individuals at the ages between 5 and 7,  were raised since a very young age and used to perform. They will be taken to the Vietnam Bear Sanctuary in Tam Dao National Park, Vinh Phuc province and get the best rehabilitation care  for the rest of their life. They are named Nhat, Nhi, Tien and Ngoan by the artists and caring staff.

In order to ensure the Covid-19 prevention and control and travel restrictions, gathering, the animal health office of the Vietnam Circus Federation took charge of putting the bears into the cages and transporting them with the consent and witness of Hanoi Forest Protection Sub-Department.  When the bears arrived at the Vietnam Bear Sanctuary,  doctors, nurses and experts here would be in charge of  on-site health checks and reception.

This is the second time Animal Asia Foundation has rescued bears from Hanoi Central Circus. In April 2019  the foundation received two Asian black bears from here. They are now healthy and well integrated into semi-natural areas at the Vietnam Bear Sanctuary.

Inspired by the two bears named Sugar and Spice before, the Foundation's staff decided to call them  Chili, Saffron, Tieu (pepper) and Gung (ginger) with the hope that their life ahead will be fascinating and lively.

Dr.Tuan Bendixsen, Animals Asia's chief representative in Vietnam said: "We welcome the positive transformations of the Vietnam Circus Federation and respectfully thank the board of directors and artists as well as veterinarians of Hanoi Central Circus for trusting us and handing over the bears so that we can take care of them. We also appreciate Hanoi Wildlife Rescue Center and the Education Nature Vietnam for their coordination during the information verification and the handover of the bears."

Animals Asia has signed a memorandum of understanding with the Vietnam Administration of Forestry under the Ministry of Agricultural and Rural Development on finally ending  bear bile farming nationwide   and take about 800 bears to the rescue centers roadmap 2017-2022.

The latest statistics showed that there are around 600 bears in captivity in the facilities across the country while there are only few hundred bears in the wild. By the end of 2005, the Government of Vietnam conducted profiling and management of bears across the country in order to manage the number of bears in captivity and to end the hunting of bears in the wild for farming.