Kala's Journey – From the bile farm to fresh forest berries
Moon bear Kala was rescued in the closure of the first Laos bile farm, shut down in early 2025. She was rescued alongside two other moon bears, all of them kept in small cages to extract bile from their gall bladders for traditional medicine.
Due to the severe trauma Kala experienced from being caged in those horrific conditions for 10 years, she had an anxious start to her sanctuary life.
Despite having 24/7 access to her forest enclosure since her rescue, she spent months hiding inside her den, too frightened of the outside world to step out and explore her new forest.
Her “house mates”, moon bears Dinh and Lom, gently edged closer to her each day, quietly keeping her company and slowly befriending her.
Finally, 9 months after her rescue, in an emotional sight, Kala was seen stepping outside for the very first time, to enjoy some pumpkin with Dinh and Lom. She didn’t venture far, but she did it! The inspiring moment was caught on camera and subsequently went viral online.
And just last week, with more expert, patient support from her carers at the sanctuary, Kala was seen for the first time deep in her forest habitat, eating fresh berries off the trees.
Moments like these bring home why Free the Bears exists. It may just look like a bear having a snack, but we know what a monumental milestone this is for Kala, after years suffering in a cage.
Recovery doesn’t happen overnight. For bears like her, learning that the world is no longer something to fear can take months, sometimes years, but she is making progress every day.
This is how your support changes lives, one brave step at a time.
Please donate to our Night in a Cage fundraiser, to help us continue to provide her rehabilitation, and to rescue more bears just like her.