On Tuesday, November 29th, 2011, the Animals Asia Foundation rescued 14 Asiatic Moon Bears from a bear bile farm in southern Vietnam. One Green Planet contributor Maya Gottfried wrote about the rescue while We Animals photographer Jo-Anne McArthur was on site documenting the amazing work of the AAF during that time.

This gallery of images gives us a behind-the-scenes look at AAF’s work after the rescue, as well as some intimate portraits of some of the beautiful furry residents at their Tam Dao sanctuary in Vietnam.

• The beautiful Lamma, one of Animals Asia Foundation's rescued Malayan Sun Bears.

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• Doors are opened and the rescued moon bears come charging out into the enclosure to forage for snacks and enrichment. The sanctuary promotes activity and natural behaviours by hiding food and placing it in areas where they have to dig or climb

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• Leika, a rescued Asiatic Moon Bear, enjoys a fresh yam at Animal Asia Foundation's Tam Dao sanctuary in Vietnam.

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• Snack time at Tam Dao bear sanctuary in Vietnam is also an opportunity to provide enrichment for the bears. They enjoy looking, foraging and climbing for their tasty, healthy treats.

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• Meet Easy the bear, one of the many beautiful faces at Animal Asia Foundation's Tam Dao bear sanctuary.

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• Lamma, a Malayan sun bear, sits back and enjoys the warm weather at Tam Dao bear sanctuary.

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• Nicole playfully chews on a tasty branch, part of the enrichment that is provided to the bears several times a day at Tam Dao sanctuary.

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• L to R: Rae Joy, Caroline Nelson and Kirsty Officer perform a routine health check on one of the newcomers to the sanctuary. She was one of fourteen rescued bears. Dr. Kirsty Officer will also use an ultrasound to check the bear's organs. The initial health check showed right away that she suffers from severe hyperkeratosis, dry skin, bad teeth and she is missing two toes.

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• While the newly rescued bear is sedated for a health check, I have the opportunity to photograph this sweet bear up close. Her nails are very overgrown from lack of use and her paws suffer from hyperkeratosis; thickened, cracked and painful foot pads from years of standing on bars instead of natural ground.

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• Caroline Nelson, a vet nurse at Tam Dao sanctuary, shows senior vet surgeon Kirsty Officer some good news for one of the newly rescued bears: positive results from recent blood work.

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• Dr. Kirsty Officer performs an ultrasound on the sedated bear. The ultrasound shows that the bear does have a damaged gall bladder from the tapping of bile while she lived at the bear farm, which will need to be fixed with surgery soon.

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• Dr. Kirsty Officer examines the sedated bear's eyes. Despite an infection surrounding the eyes, mercifully, the actual eye is still in great shape

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• While the newcomer is sedated the vets also work on her teeth, which are not in good shape. Some of teeth have decayed to the point that nerve endings are exposed which means the bear has lived in considerable pain. Those teeth will be removed.

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• After the health check is done, vet nurse Rae Joy prepares this rescued moon bear for the recovery room.

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• With the help of many staff members, the still-sedated bear is moved to the recovery area.

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• I love this photograph of Dr. Kirsty Officer. It was taken after she performed hours of dental surgery and a health check on one of the recently rescued moon bears. In the background you can see part of this vast sanctuary, the haven where these rescued bears now call home.

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• Meet Dream, one of the fourteen rescued moon bears. Dream has a long road to recovery ahead of her with one missing forepaw and another that is severly damaged. At Tam Dao sanctuary, she will be given the best possible care throughout her life, she will be given space, good food and the possibility of friendship with other rescued moon bears.

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• Nicole, one of the many stunning moon bears at Tam Dao sanctuary, takes a play break.

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• Suki ponders life and a pedicure in her hammock at Tam Dao bear sanctuary.

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• Beautiful Bubu enjoys a swing and a branch to chew on at Tam Dao bear sanctuary

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• Beautiful Maggie! She is one of the 98 bears who live at Tam Dao bear sanctuary.

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• Young Mara relaxes in her hammock at Tam Dao sanctuary in Vietnam.

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