Three moon bears are transported from Hanoi to the Vietnam Bear Rescue Centre, located at Bach Ma National Park in Hue City on April 7. 

Representatives from the Animals Asia Foundation confirmed that three rescued moon bears were successfully transported from Hanoi to the Vietnam Bear Rescue Centre, located at Bach Ma National Park in Phu Loc District, Hue City on April 7. This marks the first rescue mission of 2025 by the organisation.

The newly rescued bears will undergo a 30 to 45-day quarantine period to prevent any potential transmission of diseases before being introduced to their new enclosures and semi-natural habitats.

Earlier, on April 3, Animals Asia successfully rescued three moon bears from two households in Phung Thuong Commune, Phuc Tho District, Hanoi. These bears were legally sourced and had been kept in captivity for many years before their owners decided to transfer them for humane reasons.

Upon arrival at Bach Ma National Park, the three bears were named Bloom, Bud, and Sprout, symbolising strength and the hope of a fresh start in the spring of 2025.

According to Animals Asia, specialists used special cages to safely transport the bears, which were then placed on trucks for the long journey to Bach Ma. To ensure their safety during the nearly 800-kilometre trip, the rescue team provided the bears with their favourite foods such as condensed milk, honey, and jam. The team also conducted health checks and hydrated the bears every 2-3 hours.

The team conduct health checks and hydrated the bears every 2-3 hours.

The Vietnam Bear Rescue Centre at Bach Ma is a newly funded and operated facility by Animals Asia, equipped with a hospital, quarantine areas, and four semi-natural enclosures, ready to accommodate more rescued bears.

To date, the centre has rescued 11 moon bears, three of which have passed away. The remaining eight are over 20 years old and are named after famous global figures and projects, including Armstrong, Buzz, Apollo, Kenny, Lelly, Nắng, Celeste, and Romeo.

According to the Vietnam Forest Department, by the end of 2024, there were 362 bears being held in captivity across 78 organisations and individuals in the country. The regions with the highest numbers of captive bears include Hanoi, Dong Nai, Nghe An, HCM City, Kien Giang, Binh Duong, Haiphong, and Binh Dinh.