Quang Ninh: two captive bears moved to rescue centre

Two bears, raised in captivity in Ba Mun Island within the Bai Tu Long National Park in northern Quang Ninh province, were transferred to Tam Dao Bear Rescue Centre on May 6.
Two bears, raised in captivity in Ba Mun Island within the Bai TuLong National Park in northern Quang Ninh province, were transferred toTam Dao Bear Rescue Centre on May 6.

The centre willhelp the bears prepare for a return to the wild, according to Dr TuanBendixsen, chief representative of Animals Asia in Vietnam.

Following the transfer, the 36 remaining captive individuals will alsobe moved to the rescue site by the end of June, as determined by theAgriculture and Rural Development Ministry in a bid to improve nationalbear protection.

A March report from a private farmowner in the province's Ha Long City on the death of four captive bearsresulting from acute pneumonia and inflammatory bowel disease led tothorough inspections by the provincial Forest Protection Sub-Department.

The agency filed a report that revealed with therecent deaths, plus the death of four other bears on a farm in January,the number of bears in captivity has fallen from several dozen to onlyfive.

Local officials noted the ongoing spate of bear deaths began in 2014 with 106. So far this year, dozens more have died.

In several reports, it is clear that even after exploiting the bearsfor years, taking bile from their gall bladder that tourists flocked toconsume, farm owners are not willing to hand the exhausted animals overto the authorities for adequate care. The pressing issue now requiresdrastic measures from local authorities to address.-VNA

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