Back among the bears: Claire's long-awaited return
Claire Davidson has a longstanding connection with Free the Bears and the bears in our care.
It began while Claire was living in Vietnam in 2009, where she encountered the reality of bear exploitation firsthand. What followed was years of volunteering, fundraising, sponsoring bears and contributing her professional skills to support our work.
Then, in 2019, Claire's life changed profoundly when she became critically ill. The years that followed required enormous perseverance, and returning to the sanctuaries became an important personal goal—one that, for a long time, she wasn't sure she would ever achieve.
In 2026, Claire finally made it back to the bears.
We spoke with Claire about where her connection with the bears began, what brought her back and what it was like to see some very special old friends again.
How did your relationship with Free the Bears begin?
I have been involved with Free the Bears since 2009, when I was living in Vietnam.
At the time, there were more than 40 bears being kept in the suburb where I lived, either in people's backyards for bile extraction or in restaurants. The family of one of my colleagues even kept two bears in their backyard. The bears had originally been given to his family as a gift and were later surrendered to Free the Bears.
I had never encountered anything like it before. Suddenly, bear exploitation wasn't a distant conservation issue. It was happening around me.
Once I visited the sanctuaries and saw the bears firsthand, I knew I wanted to become actively involved. Over the years, I have volunteered, fundraised, sponsored bears and contributed my professional skills to Free the Bears. I also funded the construction of Cub Nursery Stage 2 at the Luang Prabang Wildlife Sanctuary.
After so many years away, what was it like to finally return?
It was incredibly special and emotional. My life changed profoundly when I became critically ill in 2019, and rebuilding has required enormous perseverance. Returning to the sanctuaries became an important goal for me, and for a long time I didn't believe I would ever make it back.
Simply being among the bears again meant so much. Seeing them healthy and content, watching their individual personalities and spending time photographing them felt like reconnecting with a part of my life—and a part of myself—that I feared I had lost.
Were there any particularly special reunions?
Seeing Angel again was particularly special. She was the first bear I sponsored when she was a cub in Cambodia in 2010.
I also shed some tears when I saw Bamboo. He was severely malnourished as a cub, which permanently stunted his growth. But he's also so naughty! He tries to steal the other bears' food and gets away with it a lot because he's so much smaller. Despite everything he has endured, it is wonderful to see him flourishing.
Seeing him again made me reflect on his life and how much my own life has changed. Saying goodbye to Bamboo was difficult. At the end of the day, he went inside for his nightly feed, which somehow made leaving a little easier. I didn't have to stand there with him in front of me and walk away. He did it for me.
It was also lovely to see the bear keepers I have met over the years, as well as the new members of the team. Free the Bears has expanded so much, and it was wonderful to see how much the animal care team has grown.
Claire with a mural she commissioned of bear Bamboo
What had changed at the sanctuaries since your last visit?
What really struck me was how much the sanctuaries had developed in the last few years, particularly the Luang Prabang Wildlife Sanctuary in Laos.
When I last visited, this sanctuary was still relatively new, with very little infrastructure. Returning now and seeing the spacious, lush, naturalistic habitats and the number of bears living there was remarkable.
Seeing the Cub Nursery I funded in use was particularly meaningful. My heart was very full.
Tat Kuang Si Bear Rescue Centre, also in Laos, has developed considerably, particularly its education facilities and the way it helps visitors understand the threats facing bears. The Cambodian Bear Sanctuary has also expanded with additional facilities, including a bear intensive care unit.
Despite the organisation's growth, every bear is still known and cared for as an individual, with a deep understanding of its personality, history and specific needs following its rescue.
A legacy for bears
Claire’s commitment to the bears will continue long beyond this visit. After years of volunteering, fundraising, sponsoring bears and supporting their care, Claire has also chosen to include a gift to Free the Bears in her Will.
For Claire, it is a way to help ensure the bears already rescued can receive the care they need throughout their lives, and that Free the Bears can continue to be there for bears who may still need rescue in the future.
“My relationship with Free the Bears doesn’t have to end with my lifetime,” Claire says.
“After first taking care of the people and animals they love, even leaving a small percentage of an estate can make a meaningful difference to the life of a bear.”
You can help create a lasting legacy for bears, too.
By including a gift to Free the Bears in your Will, you can help provide lifelong care for rescued bears and protect bears for generations to come.
