These signatures were sent to the Chairman of Phuc Tho District People's Committee to call for the authorities to take drastic action in encouraging local bear owners to voluntarily transfer nearly 170 individual bears. left to give bear a better life at the rescue center. Successful elimination of bear captive activities in Phuc Tho hotspot will become a factor promoting the transfer of bears in localities where this situation is still outstanding.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Phuong Dung, Deputy Director of ENV said: “The above results showed the strong support of the majority of people in Phuc Tho district with efforts to stop bear farming in the locality. However, whether Phuc Tho can become a locality without captive bears or not depends on the efforts of the authorities themselves in the regular monitoring of facilities and strict management of owners. and strictly handle related violations. "

Phuc Tho is a hotspot for capturing bears in Vietnam and has been a strategic target of ENV's bear protection campaign since 2008. Since then, ENV has implemented many propaganda activities, contributing to convey the message of ending bear farming to locals through bear protection exhibitions at markets, broadcast on local radio and through face-to-face conversations with students. In addition, ENV also works in concert with bear owners and authorities to promote the end of local bear farming.

“More than ever, we need to make bear owners understand that bear bile farming in Vietnam is coming to an end. Trading bear bile in Vietnam is not only expensive but also violates criminal law. The community is also turning away from this outdated activity by not using bear bile and bear products, ”Dung said.

Currently, the whole country has recorded 25 localities where there are no captive bears. This is becoming a great driving force for the community, bear owners, NGOs and authorities in strengthening joint efforts to promote the end of bear farming in Vietnam. .

2018 marked a number of significant achievements in the work to end bear farming. With 19 bears being voluntarily transferred over the past year, the number of captive bears has decreased to about 750 individuals, far lower than the more than 4,300 bears kept in hundreds of facilities across the country. water in 2005. The year 2019 promises to continue to recognize many efforts to eradicate bear farming entirely. The "Write a letter to bear owner" contest is still in progress and has attracted more than 1000 entries, encouraging bear owners to voluntarily hand over bear pets. mine. The contest is expected to receive thousands of entries by March 15, 2019.

ENV and Phuc Tho District People's Committee collaborated to build a billboard right next to Highway 32 in Phung Thuong commune to convey the message of bear protection.

Ms. Dung also called on the community to pledge not to use bear bile, spread the bear protection message to people around it and report bear breaches to the 1800-1522 wildlife free hotline.

ENV would like to thank the World Animal Protection organization for supporting this initiative. The initiative is also part of a long-term campaign by a group of non-governmental organizations to protect bears to promote end of bear bile farming in Vietnam.