Hanoi (VNA) – Seven captive bears have been rescued in the southernprovince of Binh Duong and transferred to a rescue centre, the Education forNature Vietnam (ENV) said November 13.
Previously, eight bears in the CentralHighlands province of Lam Dong, the northern province of Hai Duong, and Hanoi, werehanded over to rescue centres in October, while two others from Phu Tho on November 3.
ENV Director Vu Thi Quyen said in recent years, many bear owners havedecided to transfer their bears to rescue centres, adding that her NGO willcontinue its efforts to mobilise other bear owners across the country to act inthe same way and help put an end to bear bile farming in Vietnam.
In 2005, Vietnam had more than 4,300 bears in farms for bile. However, as ofNovember 2020, this number has decreased to less than 400 with more than 60percent of provinces and cities in Vietnam no longer keeping bears for bile thanksto the efforts of the Government, law enforcement agencies, the community and anumber of NGOs in Vietnam.
Maya Pastakia, Global Campaign Manager at theWorld Animal Protection (WAP), appreciated the Vietnamese government's effortsto end bear bile farming, adding that the number of bears in bear bilefacilities has decreased by 90 percent since 2005.
She hoped that the Vietnamese Government will continue its efforts to overcomelegal loopholes so as to soon completely end this cruel and illegal bearfarming for bile./.