Vietnam Promises a Brighter Future for Bears

Bear bile farming in Vietnam is coming to an end. With its determination to end bear farming, Vietnam promises a brighter future for bears.

In 2005, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development coordinated with World Animal Protection (WAP) to carry out a campaign to gradually eliminate bear captivity.

On the morning of October 22, theEducation for Nature-Vietnam (ENV) organized the event “Ending bear farming in Vietnam – The journey is nearing the finish line” in Hanoi to look back at important milestones in the nearly 20-year journey of efforts to end bear farming in Vietnam.

Ms. Bui Thi Ha, Deputy Director of the Center for Education for Nature (ENV). Photo: Internet.

Ms. Bui Thi Ha, Deputy Director of the Education for Nature (ENV), said: Currently, the number of captive bears has decreased by 95% from nearly 4,000 individuals in 2005 to 192 individuals, as of August this year. There are 46 out of 63 provinces and cities nationwide that no longer keep bears in captivity. An ENV survey in large cities also showed that the demand for bear bile consumption has decreased by 61%. Currently, Vietnamese authorities are strengthening the inspection and supervision of bear farms; making efforts to encourage the remaining bear owners to voluntarily hand over their bears to the State. Mr. Le Duy Phuong, Consultant of the World Animal Protection Organization, said: The chip implantation on bears was carried out from 2016 to 2020. We coordinated with the Forest Protection Department of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development to conduct post-chip implantation inspections nationwide. All bears without management records and electronic chips will be confiscated, and those bears that people have records of will be transferred to rescue centers.

Mr. Le Duy Phuong, World Animal Protection Organization. Photo: Internet.

The campaign to end bear bile farming also includes the Education for Nature-Vietnam (ENV), Animals Asia (AAF), Four Paws and Free The Bears. These organizations work together to rescue bears, support law enforcement agencies in handling bear violations, and reduce the demand for bear bile consumption. After nearly 20 years of continuous efforts, this campaign has achieved many results. In 2005, Vietnam had nearly 4,000 bears illegally kept in 1,390 private facilities. Most of these bears were illegally hunted when they were young and sold to bear bile farms. Therefore, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development ( MARD ) has coordinated with World Animal Protection (WAP) to carry out a campaign to gradually eliminate this situation. Right from the start, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development issued Decision 02/2005/QD-BNN on the management of captive bears. Accordingly, all captive bears must be fitted with electronic chips for identification and management. Bears that are not registered or fitted with chips will be confiscated. The registration, management and chip-fitting of bears was completed in 2006.

After nearly 20 years of relentless efforts, the number of captive bears has decreased by 95% from about 4,000 individuals in 2005 to 192 individuals at 60 bear farms by the end of August 2024. Currently, 46/63 provinces and cities no longer have bears kept in captivity for bile extraction. The campaign to end bear bile extraction also includes the participation of ENV, Animals Asia (AAF), Four Paws and Free The Bears. These organizations work together in bear rescue, support law enforcement agencies in handling bear violations, reduce demand for bear bile consumption and call on bear owners to voluntarily hand over their bears to rescue centers./.

Yanjiang