Training the front line to combat wildlife crime
Long before a bear reaches a rescue centre, a law enforcement officer has to recognise wildlife crime, intervene, and care for the bear until it can be reached by a specialist team.
Yet for many officers, training in animal welfare, wildlife handling, and emergency care has been limited or unavailable.
That is why Free the Bears has developed the Wildlife Care Course for Frontline First Responders – to equip those on the front line with the knowledge and skills needed to protect wildlife.
In 2025 alone, we trained 68 law enforcement officers across Laos in wildlife welfare, safe handling, emergency response and basic animal care.
The goal is simple: build real capacity inside law enforcement so wildlife crime is stopped faster, animals are rescued sooner, and ultimately fewer animals are lost to the illegal wildlife trade.
For many officers, the course has been transformative. Participants consistently report increased confidence in confiscating wildlife being held illegally, and managing rescues safely.
Through hands-on on-site training with Free the Bears’ staff at the Luang Prabang Wildlife Sanctuary, officers learn about the urgency of protecting threatened species, and gain practical skills such as:
- Preparing milk formula and hand-raising young cubs stolen from the wild by hunters
- Safely transporting wildlife
- Assessing injuries and responding to emergencies
- Preparing specialised diets and nutrition for different species
- Understanding stress, behaviour and welfare needs
This program is already changing what happens on the ground, with a growing network of committed law enforcement officers across Laos who are better prepared and more empowered to act when wildlife crime occurs.
Officers who completed our training have been directly involved in multiple rescues and confiscations, including:
- June 2024: critically endangered crested gibbon rescued in Attapeu Province
- July 2024: two moon bears rescued in Phongsaly Province
- September 2024: moon bear cub rescued in Pakse Province
- January 2025: two leopard cat kittens rescued in Oudomxay Province
- March–June 2025: multiple bear rescues across Bolikhamxay, Vientiane and Bokeo Provinces
- June 2025: muntjac and gibbons transferred to specialist care
The Wildlife Care Course is part of a broader strategy to strengthen Laos’ response to wildlife crime.
In partnership with the Savannakhet Provincial Agriculture and Environment Office, Free the Bears recently opened the Savannakhet Wildlife Rescue Station, the first facility of its kind in southern Laos.
Officers in southern Laos now have a local, lifesaving response centre where confiscated or injured animals can be stabilised immediately, instead of waiting for specialist rescue teams to complete the journey from the north.
Running the Wildlife Care Course alongside the opening of the station means officers are equipped to care for these animals in the critical hours after rescue.
Beyond training, Free the Bears also works closely with law enforcement to identify and disrupt illegal wildlife trade.
For example, our team recently discovered products containing bear-derived ingredients being sold in a local shop. Working with the Department of Natural Environment Inspection, the illegal items were swiftly confiscated.
Behind every rescue, or confiscation like this, is a network of people working together: government officers, conservationists and communities.
We are committed to protecting Asia's bears long before they ever reach a rescue centre, working with authorities to tackle exploitation at its source.
