The bear sanctuary in Ninh Binh province is opened on March 7 (Photo: VNA) Ninh Binh (VNA) – Four Paws, an international animal welfare organisation, openeda bear sanctuary in Ky Phu commune of Nho Quan district, the northern provinceof Ninh Binh, on March 7.
The centre has a total area of 10ha, able toaccommodate about 100 bears in a suitable semi-natural habitat.
The first phase of this facility, covering3.6ha, has been completed. It is currently caring for 10 bears which used to befarmed for their bile, and two others which are victims of wildlifetrafficking.
The sanctuary is now able to receive another 32bears, and it will have enough space for over 70 bears by the end of this year.
It will be open to visitors for free as fromMarch 8.
The opening of this facility is an importantstep towards improving animal welfare, especially for bears, and providing asafe semi-natural habitat for them to recover their natural behaviours, thushelping to end bear farming for bile and protect bears in the wild.
Four Paws estimates that there are about 800bears, mostly Asiatic black bears, kept in poor conditions at 250 private farmsin Vietnam at present.
Vice Chairman of the Ninh Binh People’sCommittee Nguyen Ngoc Thach said since 2015, the province has assisted FourPaws to build the bear sanctuary in the area zoned for a national wild animalpark. This is an example of wildlife rescue and care that Ninh Binh hopes todevelop in the future.-VNA
VNA
