Tiny, malnourished, and cramped into a plastic washing basket. That’s how two bear cubs 2 months old, were found, advertised for sale on Facebook
Short video of the little cubs
Two tiny moon bear cubs saved from illegal Facebook trade
Tiny, malnourished, and cramped into a plastic washing basket. That’s how two moon bear cubs were found, advertised for sale on Facebook in Laos this Easter weekend.
Our staff uncovered the post while searching online platforms to track and expose wildlife traders – a critical, undercover part of our work as illegal wildlife traders increasingly move from physical markets to online platforms in order to sell wildlife.
The seller had posted videos of the cubs, two sisters, who looked to be just 2 months old and under 3 kilograms each. They were illegally taken from the wild, their mother likely killed in the process.
Found in a plastic washing basket
We worked alongside the Provincial Natural Resources and Environment Inspection of Oudomxay province and local police, to plan and carry out a coordinated operation to locate and secure the cubs immediately.
Thankfully, the cubs were intercepted, the perpetrator was arrested, and the cubs are now receiving urgent care from the Free the Bears team.
Their rescue comes just three weeks after the rescue of two other moon bear cubs, brothers Jose and Fitz, from an illegal wildlife market – placing greater pressure on our cub nursery.
They will need:
Feeding every few hours
Milk formula and cub supplies
Monitoring day and night
Specialist veterinary care
Dedicated bear carers
These little cubs deserved so much better than to be stolen from their mother and traded online like commodities. We will do everything we can to give them a safe and stable home from hereon, but we need help.
The rescue of these two sisters brings the number of bears in our care in Laos to a record 150 – the highest number yet.
Across Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam, we now care for 312 rescued bears total, placing increasing pressure on our resources as rescues continue.
P.S. All donations for Australians are tax deductible & UK donors can Gift Aid their donations. If we can find many willing to give a little, many more bears can be rescued from a lifetime of suffering.
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