The Hoang Lien Tourism and Wildlife Conservation Centre, part of Hoang Lien National Park, has taken in an Asiatic black bear voluntarily surrendered by the family of Nguyen Van Bay in Lao Cai Ward.
The rescued bear is a 17-year-old female Ursus thibetanus, weighing 160kg. The species is classified as a rare and endangered wild animal under Vietnam's Group IB protection status, which prohibits its exploitation, hunting and commercial use.
The Hoang Lien Tourism and Wildlife Conservation Centre receives the bear handed over by a resident (Photo: La Toi).
Authorities said the bear had been kept in captivity by Nguyen Van Bay's family for more than a decade. During that time, forestry officials implanted a microchip to monitor the animal, conducted regular health checks and inspected its living conditions.
Following a public awareness campaign by local authorities, the family voluntarily applied to transfer the bear to the Hoang Lien Tourism and Wildlife Conservation Centre, where it will receive scientific care, undergo rehabilitation to restore its natural behaviours and contribute to biodiversity conservation efforts.
The Hoang Lien Tourism and Wildlife Conservation Centre receives the bear handed over by a resident (Photo: La Toi).
Before the latest rescue, the Hoang Lien Tourism and Wildlife Conservation Centre was caring for five bears. The newly arrived animal brings the total number of rescued bears at the facility to six.
