Hanoi last in the race to end bear bile farming in Vietnam – urgent action needed

31/05/2022

A coalition of organisations including World Animal Protection, Education for Nature Vietnam (ENV) and Four Paws, have renewed fresh calls to the authorities in Hanoi to take decisive action to end bear bile farming in Vietnam in a media briefing held today.

What next?

During the briefing, the Vietnam Bear Coalition, comprised of Education for Nature - Vietnam (ENV), FOUR PAWS, and World Animal Protection, also proposed actions that the Hanoi government can take to ensure that bear bile farming in Hanoi comes to an end, including:

  • Strengthening bear bile farm monitoring and inspections
  • Taking immediate and decisive action if violations or illegal bears are found on bear farms by confiscating bears
  • Ensuring strict prosecution and punishment for serious violations
  • Enacting a breeding ban on private bear farms
  • Convincing bear bile business owners to voluntarily transfer their bears to authorities without compensation
  • Promoting herbal and other humane alternatives to bear bile

What about the bears?

Multiple bear sanctuaries, including FOUR PAWS’ international gold-standard BEAR SANCTUARY Ninh Binh, have been set up to accomodate farmed bears, providing them with a species-specific and semi-natural environment to live out the remainder of their lives.

Hanoi last in the race to end bear bile farming

Ioana Dungler, Director Wild Animal Department at FOUR PAWS International said:

“In their new home in BEAR SANCTUARY Ninh Binh, the rescued bears can now follow their natural instincts. After a life in horrible captive conditions, they rediscover a species-appropriate life, and that’s what we can provide the captive bile bears of Hanoi. We look forward to the day when Hanoi can be declared the next bear farm-free province in Vietnam.”

With support and decisive action by the Hanoi PC and Phuc Tho PC, a bear farm-free future could be achieved in Hanoi in only a few years.

Read our report; Cruel Cures about bear bile farming

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