Hanoi (VNA) – Six Tibetanbears were successfully rescued from a farm in Thuan An township of thesouthern province of Binh Duong by the Animals Asia on December 8.
The bears were implanted with microchipsand kept at the farm for about 12 years. They were sent to the Vietnam Bear Sanctuary in the Tam Dao National Parkof Vinh Phuc province. The owner voluntarily relinquished the animals.
This year, the AnimalsAsia has rescued and sent a total of 17 Tibetan bears to the sanctuary, with 15bears from Binh Duong province.
Statistics of theMinistry of Agriculture and Rural Development showed that there were 317 bearsin Binh Duong in 2005, but the figure strongly reduced to 155 in 2014.
According to the lateststatistics from the Vietnam Forest Protection Department, 1,245 Asian blackbears were being held in captivity in 430 bear farms nationwide as by early2015.
To date, the Animals Asiahas rescued 192 Tibetan and Malayan bears. As many as 176 bears are currentlyliving at the Vietnam Bear Sanctuary, which was built by the Animals Asia andthe Vietnam Forest Protection Department under the Ministry of Agriculture andRural Development.
The organisation hasworked together with authorised agencies and forest protection sector to savebears and disseminate bear protection laws. It also held several programmes onanimal protection for students.-VNA