Moon bears rescued from illegal bile farm feel the grass on their paws for the first time
Moon bears (Asiatic black bears) rescued by Free the Bears and Lao authorities in Southeast Asia’s largest ever bear farm rescue, have now stepped outside for the first time, after years trapped in tiny metal cages.
Ten of the 27 bears rescued in the major wildlife rescue operation, have now completed their quarantine at Luang Prabang Wildlife Sanctuary, beginning the next stage of their rehabilitation – exploring the great outdoors.
It is the first time they have felt grass under their paws, foraged freely or climbed trees, since they were illegally taken from the wild as cubs and caged in the illegal bile farm.
"These bears never had the chance to do things as simple as stand on natural ground or feel the sunshine on their face,” said Matt Hunt, CEO of Free the Bears.
“They have experienced many firsts since they arrived at the sanctuary – meeting other bears, eating vegetables, even learning how to regulate their own water intake after years of only being given water once a day.”
While the first group from the 27 bears have now moved into forest habitat, the remaining rescued bears continue in quarantine as Free the Bears urgently expands Luang Prabang Wildlife Sanctuary to move them to forest enclosures.
Having spent their formative years confined to cages and exploited for the illegal wildlife trade, the bears cannot be returned to the wild and will require specialist sanctuary care for decades to come.
“This is a very special milestone, but we still have a great deal of work ahead of us,” Hunt said.
"We're building additional bear houses and forest enclosures as quickly as we can to give these rescued bears a lifelong sanctuary home, but we can only do it with the support of our community.”
Free the Bears is calling on supporters to help fund the urgent $300,000 sanctuary expansion, ensuring all 27 rescued bears can move from quarantine into large natural forest habitats in the months ahead. Additionally, providing proper care, including nutritious food, daily enrichment, and expert veterinary treatment, can cost over $150,000 per bear across their lifetime.
