Local authorities seized the bear and collaborated with wildlife protection NGOs – Education for Nature Việt Nam and Four Paws Việt – for the rescue early on Thursday.

The bear was then sent to Four Paws Việt’s bear sanctuary in the northern province of Ninh Binh for a health check-up and supportive care.

“His condition is critical. We have no information on how long he was kept in that terrible tiny cage, not being able to breath properly and being under sedatives of unknown quantity and type. Factors that could potentially seriously impair his health,” said Four Paws Việt on-site veterinarian Szilvia Kalogeropoulu in a statement on Thursday.

Ha Tinh Province Police have also launched an extended investigation into the case.

Earlier this month, on December 4, a bear, later named Ben, was rescued after three decades of being caged in a farm in Moc Chau District, Son La Province.

Bear bile farming boomed in Vietnam in the 90s. The practice was outlawed in 1992. However, people are still allowed to keep bears as pets. — VNS

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