According to the centre, the Ho Chi Minh City Forest Protection Department coordinated with Four Paws, an international animal welfare organisation to receive the female bear from a household in the city two days ago.

"The bear had been kept with another bear in a cage which lacked water and light for 20 years," the centre said. "The household decided to hand it over to local authorities after the other bear died from disease several months ago.

Before receiving the bear, doctors from Faw Paws arrived to give the animal a health check. They found that it was suffering from serious health problems, including those usually found in bears having been extracted for bile like osteoarthritis, dental, heart, and liver problems.

Doctor Lesley Halter-Gölkel from Faw Paws said that the bear may also have its left eye removed due to glaucoma.

"Most of its teeth are also suffering from breaks and infection and need to be removed," the doctor said. "We'll try to properly treat the bear as soon as possible. It may take time but we believe that the bear’s health will improve in the coming time."

Source: VOV