For more than 30 years, Free the Bears has worked alongside governments, law enforcement and local communities to rescue bears from cruelty and exploitation, providing the specialist veterinary care, rehabilitation and long-term sanctuary they need.
We have helped rescue more than 1,000 bears across Asia. It is at the heart of what we do.
But successful rescues require far more than simply removing an animal. They depend on strong partnerships, skilled wildlife authorities, specialist facilities and long-term resources to care for rescued bears for decades to come.
1000+ BEARS RESCUED ACROSS ASIA
Rescuing 27 bears from an illegal bile farm in Laos
In a major wildlife rescue operation, we rescued 27 moon bears from an illegal bear bile farm in Laos. The facility had confined 27 young bears in tiny cages for bile extraction. The bears are believed to have been taken from the wild as cubs, their mothers likely killed in the process. The rescue marks the largest ever bear farm rescue in Southeast Asia.
Loading up for the rescue
An update from the bile farm
The conditions at the bile farm
Loading the 27th bear
Rescue success - all 27 bears arrive at the sanctuary safely
Threats bears are facing:
Latest rescue stories
Watch the world's largest rescue of endangered bear cubs
Rescuing wildlife beyond bears
While bears are at the heart of our mission, they are not the only victims of the illegal wildlife trade.
At Luang Prabang Wildlife Sanctuary, we have rescued more than 200 animals from 39 different species — including pangolins, macaques, gibbons, jackals, turtles, birds and even a binturong!
Many arrive injured, orphaned or traumatised after being stolen from the wild and trafficked.
Where possible, rescued animals are rehabilitated and returned to protected wild habitats. Others may require permanent care due to injury or habituation.
