The children play Maze Bear

This year's Vietnam Bear Day is celebrated, marking a year of achievements in efforts to end bear farming in Vietnam. As of October 2018, the number of captive bears was down to nearly 800 individuals, a significant reduction from the more than 4,300 bears that had been kept in hundreds of facilities across the country in 2005. Also during the month. 11 of these bears were transferred to rescue centers in Dong Nai, Ben Tre and Lam Dong, bringing the total number of bears to be voluntarily transferred this year to 18 individuals. In addition, Ninh Binh, Can Tho and Ben Tre are the last three provinces to successfully end their bear-keeping activities this year, bringing the total number of non-captive bears in the country to 23.

However, the fight to protect the bear will only be successful if it receives support and support from the whole community.

According to ENV research published in 2015, the demand for bear bile in Vietnam in 2014 has decreased by over 60% compared to the previous 5 years, showing that the community is gradually abandoning the habit of using and obsolete concepts. on the effect of bear bile. This also contributes to reduce the profits that bear bile farming brings. Investment costs are expensive, but profits are getting lower with increasing pressure from state management agencies and the community, which has made bear bear bile farming gradually regress and many owners have decided to abandon bear farming activities.

“It is time to increase the pressure for bear owners to give up bear farming,” said Ms. Nguyen Phuong Dung, ENV Deputy Director, “Bear owners need to understand that bear bile business in Vietnam is micro criminal law. The community is also turning away from this outdated activity by not using bear bile and bear products. ”

With the establishment of many bear welfare and rescue centers across the country, many bear owners have voluntarily transferred them to bring a better life to their individual bears at rescue centers. this specialized. Here, the bears are well cared for, instinctively restored, enjoying freedom in the vast semi-wilderness and will not have to suffer the pain of being extracted bile only by the needs of the user. human. Ms. Dung expressed her confidence: “The contest provides an opportunity for the community to share their thoughts and feelings with bear owners, thereby contributing to joint efforts to end farming activities completely. confine this cruel and illegal bear ".
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 free wildlife hotline 1800-1522 .
ENV hopes the competition will attract thousands of entries during the launch from March 15, 2019.
The competition is part of a long-running campaign of a group of non-governmental organizations on the protection of bears: Nature Education Center (ENV), World Animal Protection Organization, FOUR PAWS aims to accelerate the process of ending bear farming in Vietnam.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Phuong Dung - Director of ENV launched the contest
ENV would like to thank Newton International School for cooperating with ENV in organizing the launch of this writing competition.

For more information about the contest, please see HERE
Please see more information on ENV's campaigns to end bear farming and trading here.