Meet Misty and Rain – two delightful moons bear cubs splashing about in a bubbly bath. Misty, the brave one, is always ready to cheer up her slightly suds-shy sister, Rain.
It’s a charming display of sisterly love, made all the more poignant given their troubled past.
Absent of their mother’s care, Misty and Rain have found a new home at the Vietnam Bear Sanctuary managed by Animals Asia.
Their story isn’t unique; the sanctuary is a refuge for many cubs orphaned by poachers targeting bears for illegal wildlife trading.
According to Steve Jackson, Head of International Communications at Animals Asia, these orphaned cubs lack the survival skills typically imparted by their mothers.
“Without their mother, the cubs are missing essential survival skills,” he explained. Animals Asia commits to these vulnerable cubs for life without a safe place for their release in Vietnam.
The sanctuary’s mission? To ensure these bear cubs have every opportunity to grow and thrive in a safe and nurturing environment.
You’ll find Wilf and Essie among their playful inhabitants, who often prefer romping around to mealtime.
There’s also Murphy, who was recently seen navigating a ladder with youthful clumsiness on his first day outdoors.
Bear bile farming, a horrific practice that created a multi-million dollar industry has been illegal in Vietnam since 1992.
Yet, due to its proximity to Laos and China – the epicenters of bear bile production – the demand for bear cubs remains high.
Fortunately, sanctuaries like this offer these innocent creatures a place to frolic, mature, and even hang around upside down – a testament to the resilience of life and the power of compassion.
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