Free the Bears

Loading the 27th bear onto our transport trucks, to take them away from this illegal bile farm.

One by one, frightened moon bears who have spent their lives behind metal bars have been carefully moved into transport crates for the long journey home. They've seen the sky, had plenty of food and water, and the team have stuffed the trucks with lots of leafy brows to provide comfort and a visual barrier to reduce their stress.

Even the leaves on the branches are new to these bears, after being trapped in sterile cages in a concrete shed since they were cubs - a devastating reality.

The journey from here to the sanctuary with such precious cargo is a 16+ hour mission through winding mountain passes on unfinished roads.

And the rescue doesn’t end when the trucks arrive, with 27 bears to unload safely into the sanctuary quarantine facilities.

These bears are exhausted, underweight, and deeply traumatised. Many have never touched grass, climbed, foraged, or even had proper access to fresh water. They will need lifelong specialised care after years of confinement.

Right now, an enormous effort is underway behind the scenes to prepare for what comes next. New dens. More bear houses. Veterinary care. Nutritious food. Space to heal.

They don’t know it yet, but they have a brighter future ahead, and we’re going to be with them every step of the way. We are so proud of our team, and also commend the action of the Laos authorities to close this criminal facility. It sends a clear message to the foreigners who came to Laos specifically to exploit Laos wildlife and steal bears from the wild – it will not be tolerated.

We cannot thank you all enough for the support so far. We will see you on the other side of this beary big drive!