Big milestone for little Pooh

At our Cat Tien Bear Sanctuary in Vietnam, a small moment recently marked a huge milestone.

Pooh, a rescued sun bear, has climbed a tree for the first time, and his carers caught it on camera!

Pooh was rescued in November 2021 after being kept illegally in a small cage on a rooftop. When he first arrived at the sanctuary, his recovery was slow and challenging. For nearly a month, he refused to eat. With patience, and a blanket for comfort similar to the one he had been given when caged, he relaxed and slowly regained his appetite.

Like many bears rescued from the illegal wildlife trade, Pooh was confined during his early life, at a time when young bears normally learn essential skills from their mothers. As a result, many of his natural instincts, such as climbing a tree, never had the chance to develop. Confinement in small cages can also affect a bear's physical ability to climb, impacting their muscles and bone structure.

When Pooh was introduced to the lush, leafy sanctuary four years ago he showed clear curiosity and intelligence, quickly mastering enrichment toys and play structures. But tree-climbing – a vital behaviour for sun bears – remained out of reach.

Despite living in a forested habitat with plenty of trees, he lacked the confidence and physical skills to climb.

But finally, after four years (almost to the day) of encouragement, gentle care, and with a little incentive in the form of tasty enrichment, Pooh succeeded. Pooh's carers were thrilled to spot him braving a smaller tree for the very first time, while on the edge of his forest habitat, and managed to capture the moment.

Watching him learn and show these natural behaviours is incredibly exciting, and such a testament to the dedication of our team in Vietnam. They’ve supported Pooh patiently and consistently… and it paid off.

Watching Pooh climb for the first time is a powerful reminder of both the lasting impacts of wildlife exploitation and the resilience animals can show when given time, care and the right environment to heal.

With ongoing support, rescued bears like Pooh can continue to rediscover the behaviours that were taken from them and live natural lives in peace.

You can help give more rescued bears the freedom to be bears again by becoming a Bear Carer: https://freethebears.org/pages/bear-carer

Keep climbing, Pooh, we're proud of you.