Animals Asia’s Vietnam Bear Rescue Centre and sole sanctuary for bears in Vietnam faces eviction and relocation. The director of Tam Dao National Park, Do Dinh Tien, has successfully lobbied the Ministry of Defence to issue an order to evict the sanctuary and its 104 rescued bears.
It is believed that he intends to hand the land over to the Truong Giang Tam Dao Joint Stock Company, of which his daughter is one of the owners. The company intends to build commercial property, including hotels, and a tourism park.
The closure would see 104 bears that have been rescued from the bile industry evicted, 77 local Vietnamese staff made unemployed, and financial losses to Animals Asia of more than US $2 million.
Beside the troubling effects on the bears which would cause a relocation, starting a new centre would take years.
Only last month on September 13, the inaugural bears' day was celebrated in Vietnam, and here you can see a video where the same park director who causes now so much distress had commented positively on the importance of the bear sanctuary when it was opened.
It is believed that he intends to hand the land over to the Truong Giang Tam Dao Joint Stock Company, of which his daughter is one of the owners. The company intends to build commercial property, including hotels, and a tourism park.
The closure would see 104 bears that have been rescued from the bile industry evicted, 77 local Vietnamese staff made unemployed, and financial losses to Animals Asia of more than US $2 million.
Beside the troubling effects on the bears which would cause a relocation, starting a new centre would take years.
Only last month on September 13, the inaugural bears' day was celebrated in Vietnam, and here you can see a video where the same park director who causes now so much distress had commented positively on the importance of the bear sanctuary when it was opened.
Photo: EPA/Barbara Walton
Here is "Mara, a moon bear rescued from a bear bile farm where she had a life in a small cage, enjoying a hammock and a branch with leaves, in the bear enclosure at the Vietnam Bear Rescue Centre, operated by international organization Animals Asia, in Tam Dao national park, about 70 kms north of Hanoi, Vietnam, 19 September 2012. Vietnam's Ministry of Defence ordered the eviction of the bear sanctuary from the national park on the grounds of ' national defence '. The Vietnam Bear Rescue Centre hosts 104 bears confiscated from bile farms or given up by pet owners. The sanctuary has been hailed as one of the most successful conservation stories in the South-East Asian country, which is known for a brisk trade in animal products."
The two rescued bear cubs getting used to their new home
Photos & more: Animals Asia
Photos & more: Animals Asia
Animals Asia is fighting this eviction notice every step of the way, appealing
directly to the Vietnamese authorities, enlisting help from the
international community, the media and other NGOs. But most of all they
need our help.
How you can help
Please write to the Prime Minister of Vietnam, and appeal to him to allow Animals Asia’s Vietnam bear sanctuary, which he previously approved and endorsed, to continue operations, and expand, in line with the government’s original agreement.
2. Sign our online petition
3. Spread the word
Learn more on the Stop the Eviction site of Animals Asia or in articles like this one
3. Spread the word
Learn more on the Stop the Eviction site of Animals Asia or in articles like this one
Sources:
- Stop the Eviction /Animals Asia
- Bear sanctuary faces eviction /Bulgarian News Agency 09.10.2012
- Bear rescue center faces risk of profit-driven shutdown/Peoples's World 10.10.2012
- Bears rescued from bile farms in Vietnam face eviction, group says/NBC News 10.10.2012
- Vietnam: 104 gerettete Bären in Gefahr/ focus 10.10.2012
- Vietnam: Animals Asia's Bear Sanctuary faces Eviction.Take Action Now. Sample letter below/Serbian Animals Voice 11.10.2012
Related:
- Vietnam celebrates inaugural bear day/ WSPA International 13.09.2012
See also:
- Rescue Center for Bears Opens in Vietnam - video on YouTube (2008)
This is a video from the 2008 opening of the Vietnam Bear Rescue Centre. Our friends Jill Robinson and Tuan Bendixon comment on the importance of the sanctuary and its mission. Interestingly the Director of the Tam Dao National Park who has since caused the facility such grief is filmed here commenting on the its very important work.( Thanks for sharing, Else!)
Previous article on the K-files about the project in Vietnam:
- The sad news at the end of February - Kleines Kragenbärchen Tiger...Moon bear cub Tiger RIP/28.02.2010
Previous article on the K-files about the project in Vietnam:
- The sad news at the end of February - Kleines Kragenbärchen Tiger...Moon bear cub Tiger RIP/28.02.2010
- End Bear Bile Farming/Animals Asia
