Bears Suffer In Appalling Conditions While Awaiting Rescue
A campaign to force the release of 23 dying bears from a bear bile farm in Halong Bay, Vietnam has been launched this week.
Animal welfare organization Animals Asia has published an open letter to Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung requesting the government steps in and confiscates the bears.
Signed by Animals Asia Vietnam Director Tuan Bendixsen, his name has already been joined by thousands more as animal lovers across the world add their support.
Once the bears are released, Animals Asia would rehabilitate them and care for them at its nearby sanctuary in Tam Dao.
The move follows an expose in December 2014 by an Animals Asia team who were given access to inspect three farms just minutes from the iconic beauty spot.
During the inspections, the Cau Trang Bear Farm, was discovered to be home to 27 severely emaciated bears, with many suffering open wounds and missing limbs.
Last week the Quang Ninh Forest Protection Department reported that four of the bears had died due to the appalling conditions.
Having lodged a report with the Vietnamese authorities in November which was followed up on Dec. 24 and again on Jan. 7, Animals Asia is now pressing the government to step in and take action to save the lives of the endangered animals.
Animals Asia Vietnam Director Tuan Bendixsen said:
Following the submission of our report we are awaiting action. While we respect the processes involved, in this case immediate action is absolutely vital for the survival of these bears. Since we visited four have tragically already died.
The farm owner is keeping them in appalling conditions in direct contravention of an agreement signed with the Vietnamese government in 2005. As the farmer has proven either incapable or unwilling to care for the bears, we have declared ourselves to be ready and willing to bring all the bears to our nearby sanctuary.
We are asking for the support of the international community to urge the government to make a decision and close this tragic farm which is in stark contrast to the beauty on its doorstep.
You can find the open letter and add your name here.
Clearly it's a matter of life or death for these bears. The longer a decision is delayed, the greater the risk of yet more fatalities. We have no option now but to make our voices heard and ask Vietnam's Prime Minister to save these poor bears from cruelty. It's not too late yet for the remaining 23 bears.