Photos of Bears Rescued From a Bile Farm and Now Enjoying Sanctuary Life is Why We Keep Fighting

The existence of the bear bile industry is an issue many people are unaware of – it is not the first cause that comes to mind when thinking about Animal rights in connection to bears, and the idea of bile farming is in itself so peculiar that not many people would even guess it is happening. Nonetheless, bear bile farming persists. Bear bile has been used for centuries in Traditional Asian Medicine and is believed to be a panacea – curing everything from hangovers to serious illnesses. Because of that, bear bile farming has become a huge problem, especially since farmers have begun marketing the substance as a general cure to make more profit … no matter the consequence to animals.

But, fortunately, there are bears who make it out this horrible industry, thanks to the help of Animals Asia. Bazan and Wendles were recently rescued from a Vietnamese bear bile farm. Ever since then, they have been simply living their lives – something that they were denied for so long.

The two bears were caged side by side for as long as a decade – when they finally met outside of their confinements, they bear-hugged. That was the beginning of a new future for Bazan and Wendles at Animals Asia’s sanctuary.

The animals amazed their carers with how fearless and inquisitive they were. In contrast to many traumatized bears rescued from the bile industry, they did not find it difficult to adjust to their new living situation, with much larger spaces and new experiences.

Bazan and Wendles were more than enthusiastic to see their new home and finally live in an open space, not a tiny cage. Bazan was especially charmed with the grass and sun all around her and all the opportunities to have fun and explore!

“Bazan is a rock star,” says Animals Asia’s Bear Manager Sarah van Herpt. “She is constantly moving, playing, exploring and making everyone around her fall in love with her beautiful nature.”

The bear’s outgoing personality has helped the more timid Wendles. Their relationship is a beautiful example of how important those connections can be to rescued bears and their recovery from cruelty.

The duo is now sharing their new enclosure with a senior resident of the sanctuary, Rae, who was rescued from a plastics company in Hanoi in 2012. The sanctuary’s carers hope that her calm nature will help the newcomers settle in. “Maybe she’ll even point out the best foraging spots,” says Animals Asia’s Vietnam Bear and Vet Team Director Heidi Quine.

So far, Animals Asia has rescued 186 bears in Vietnam – most of them from the bear bile industry. Bear bile farming is a great threat to moon bears and a feat of such unadulterated cruelty, it should be nothing but a distant memory at this point. The animals farmed for their bile spend their lives crushed in small cages designated to keep them still while the bile is drained from their gall bladders – which is a daily process. All of that happens to simply make a product – one that has an array of synthetic alternatives which do not require any animal abuse. The fight for bear bile farming to end completely is far from over, but rescues like this make us hopeful – and eager to fight for every single bear who can be saved.

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All image source: Animals Asia