A bear is living at the Ninh Binh bear conservation centre (Photo: VNA)Ninh Binh (VNA) – Seventeen bears –which used to be kept in captivity and illegally traded to harvest their bile -are living in a bear conservation centre in the northern province of Ninh Binh.
The centre was inaugurated by Four Paws, aninternational animal welfare organisation, in March 2019, in Ky Phu commune,Nho Quan district.
Covering around 10 hectares, the centre is ableto take care for nearly 100 bears.
The first phase of the project has beencompleted with 3.6 hectares.
The centre is taking care of 15 bile bears andtwo others saved from illegal wildlife trade activities.
It includes a veterinary clinic, two bearhouses, an isolation area, and four semi-wild areas.
The facility is now able to receive more 32bears.
At the end of 2019, it will have enough spacefor over 70 bears.
Director of Four Paws Viet Ngo Thi Mai Huongsaid Vietnam has two kinds of bears: sun bear (scientifically namedHelarctos malayanus) and Asian black bear (scientifically named Ursusthibetanus).
Their existence is being seriously threateneddue to habitat loss and illegal hunting, she said.
Therefore, the centre was established to takecare of the bears and recover their natural habitat, she added.
It is open free for visitors during weekdays,she said.
Vice Chairman of the provincial People’sCommittee Nguyen Ngoc Thach said local authorities will create the bestconditions in terms of policies and legal procedures for Four Paws to completethe second phase of the project and build it into a tourist site to raisepublic awareness of bear conservation.-VNA
VNA
