Two moon bear cubs rescued from Facebook sale in Laos, in illegal wildlife trade sting
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Tiny, malnourished, and cramped into a plastic washing basket.
That’s how two threatened moon bear cubs were found on Easter weekend – advertised for sale on Facebook in Laos. It is a stark reminder of the growing role of social media in the illegal wildlife trade.
Free the Bears staff uncovered the post while searching online platforms to track and expose wildlife traders. The seller had posted videos of the cubs, two sisters, who looked to be just 2 months old and weighing under 3 kilograms.
They had been taken illegally from the wild, and sadly their mother was likely killed in the process.
Images from the online listing
Working in partnership with local authorities, the Provincial Natural Resources and Environment Inspection of Oudomxay province, a coordinated operation was carried out to locate and secure the cubs.
Shortly after the post was discovered, the perpetrator was arrested, and the bear cubs were saved.
They are now receiving urgent specialist care from Free the Bears' dedicated nursery team at the Luang Prabang Wildlife Sanctuary.
Wildlife crime is moving to the digital world
The case reflects a broader shift in the illegal wildlife trade, moving from physical markets into digital spaces.
“Wildlife traffickers are adapting quickly, with animals being advertised and sold quickly on online platforms such as Meta,” said CEO of Free the Bears Matt Hunt.
“Moon bears (Asiatic black bears) and sun bears are commonly targeted for the illegal pet trade and the bear bile industry, but they are far from the only victims.
“These operations are difficult and fast moving, and I’m very proud of the rapid response from our rescue team and the authorities so that we can give these cubs a second chance.”
The rescue comes amid growing global pressure on social media companies to address wildlife trafficking on their platforms.
Recent investigations and campaigns, including efforts led by organisations such as Freeland and reporting by Mongabay and Bellingcat, have exposed the scale of wildlife being traded through Meta groups and marketplaces.
These efforts have resulted in some groups being shut down, but traffickers continue to exploit gaps in the social media platforms response.
What happens next for the cubs
The rescued cubs are now in specialised care, requiring round-the-clock feeding, monitoring, and veterinary support. They are the 171st and 172nd bears Free the Bears’ has rescued in Laos.
This rescue comes just three weeks after Free the Bears worked with authorities to rescue two other moon bear cubs, José and Fitz, from an illegal wildlife market, placing additional pressure on the Free the Bears’ cub nursery and care teams.
Because the cubs were taken from their mother at such a young age, it is unlikely they will ever return to the wild. Instead, they will require lifelong care in sanctuary, which can span more than 30 years.
“These two bear cubs bring us 150 bears in our care in Laos today – a record-breaking number,” said Matt Hunt.
“We now have 312 bears in our care total across Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam, and every rescue adds to the long-term commitment we make to these animals.
“Many of these bears will live more than 30 years in our care so every donation really does make a difference.”
How the public can help
Free the Bears is urgently calling for public support to help care for the cubs and continue its work combating the illegal wildlife trade.
Donations help fund:
- Rescue and transport operations
- Specialist veterinary care
- Milk formula and cub supplies
- Dedicated bear carers experience in hand-raising cubs, providing round-the-clock feeding
- Ongoing monitoring and long-term sanctuary care