The Bear Rescue Center within the Bach Ma National Park in Thua Thien-Hue province (Photo: quochoitv.vn) |
The Bear Rescue Center is within the Bach Ma National Park in Thua Thien-Hue province. It includes 12 bear houses, 12 semi-wild areas, an administrative and staff area, a quarantine zone, a veterinary hospital, a food processing zone, and waste treatment and other facilities. After more than half a year in operation, the Center is raising seven bears in a semi-wild environment.
Experts say the Center has awakened the hope of rescuing every bear in captivity in Vietnam.
Nguyen Vu Linh, Director of Bach Ma National Park, said: “In the first phase, the Bear Rescue Center II is building two bear houses and four semi-wild areas which can accommodate 120 bears. When the project finishes in 2026, the Center will be able to shelter 300 bears. It will be an effective model of natural conservation, tourism, and wildlife protection education.”
Bach Ma National Park has a good climate for bears. Rescued bears brought to the center are cared for to recover their health and are free to travel in a semi-wild forest to forage for food and restore their natural instincts. In the future, experts will carefully consider releasing some of the bears back into the wild.
The Bear Rescue Center I is located in the Tam Dao National Park, Vinh Phuc province. The two Centers are both working toward a goal of ending bear captivity on bile farms by 2026.