Rescue of the last captive Asian black bear in Vinh Phuc

The Vinh Phuc Forest Protection Department, Tam Dao National Park, and Animals Asia worked together to persuade the owner, guide, and complete the legal procedures to transfer the bear to the Vietnam Bear Rescue Center at Tam Dao National Park, Vinh Phuc Province safely and promptly.

In Vinh Phuc, this is the last captive bear kept in a household. The owner had legally kept the bear since 2001, with the bear being microchipped for source verification since 2005 and re-chipped in 2019. The female bear had been kept for 23 years within the family's premises.

Over the years, the Vinh Phuc Forest Protection Department and Animals Asia have met and engaged with the owner, hoping to provide the bear with the best possible care at the largest rescue centre in Vietnam, located in the province.

In alignment with their beliefs and due to her advanced age and weakened health, the bear's owner, Mrs. Ngo Thi Lien, voluntarily transferred and submitted a donation request to the government, expressing the desire to send the bear to the Vietnam Bear Rescue Center in Tam Dao, Vinh Phuc, after 23 years of care.

The female bear has been named Crescent, and the rescue occurred on the 26th anniversary of Animals Asia’s founding.

The Asian black bear (also known as the moon bear) is named for the crescent-shaped white or yellow patch on its chest, resembling a moon crescent.

The owner reported that she had been raising Cresent since the bear was about 1 year old, starting in 2001. Cresent enjoyed eating fruits, including papaya, bananas, and especially starfruit from the backyard.

During the rescue operation, the team of veterinarians and anesthesiologists conducted a clinical examination on-site and assessed that the bear's health was relatively good for its age.

The rescue process was completed swiftly and efficiently in the morning. The bear owner accompanied Cresent to the Vietnam Bear Rescue Center, which will now be Cresent's new home along with nearly 200 other rescued bears.

The Animals Asia Foundation was established by Dr. Jill Robinson MBE. To date, the organization has rescued and cared for 280 sun bears and moon bears in Vietnam.

The organization is running a global fundraising campaign with the slogan #Nobearleftbehind, aiming to rescue all bears from captivity in Vietnam.

The Vietnam Bear Rescue Center at Tam Dao National Park, the largest bear rescue centre in the country, currently houses 194 sun bears and moon bears in an internationally standard semi-wild environment.

The centre also serves as a reputable visitor and environmental education site, attracting many schools and members of the public who come to learn about bears.