.JPG "Team meeting pre-rescue")
The team discusses final details before the rescue begins.
The farms were in the notorious stronghold of bear bile farming – Phung Thuong, on the outskirts of Hanoi – and we were relieved to be heading back there again. The previous months had seen a re-organisation within government departments across the country, and consequent delays in such rescues, but now we could be optimistic that the authorities were committed to their confiscation of the bears, and to the spirit of our Memorandum of Understanding that, together, we would end bear bile farming in Vietnam.
X690.JPG "Mr Ha, Jill and team")
The Head of FPD Phung Thuong, Mr Ha greets Jill, Heidi, Trinh and team on arrival at the FPD premises housing the bears.
Arriving at the office building just after 7am, we were immediately greeted by the wonderful Mr Ha, Head of the Hanoi Forest Protection Department Unit 5, beaming from ear to ear, despite the fact that he and his colleagues had stayed over at the office to guard the bears, all sleepless night.
Just as we were getting over that surprise, Heidi, our Vietnam Director, our bear and vet team and I were invited by Mr Ha to meet the bears who had languished in cages on the farms for almost 20 years.
Our first glimpse of the bears in the care of FPD - Bud sleeping off that morning's transfer anaesthetic.
Just behind him was a cage with one very sleepy bear who had been anaesthetised at dawn that morning and brought over from the farm. Looking surprisingly well on the surface, we knew not to be over confident of his or her health given the years of bile extraction this bear would have suffered. Confidently, we all looked at what we were sure was a male bear – long and strong, with handsome boy looks, we named this bear Bud for the vibrant growth of spring.
Just behind Bud were another two cages containing two feisty females who we quickly named Bloom and Sprout, again in celebration of the new beginnings of spring. All three bears were now safely in the FPD's own wildlife cages and now our vet and bear care team had the challenging task of transferring them consciously into our own transport cages in preparation for the two-day journey home by road.
.JPG "Bud transfer to TC")
Bud is encouraged by rescue team member Tot, to transfer from the FPD cage to Animals Asia's transport cage for the trip home to Bach Ma.
While it took some time, Bud and Bloom were eventually coaxed into the cages by our resourceful and patient team. Tot and Nhung were especially calm and professional as they won the bears' confidence, with a little help from spoonfuls of caramel sauce and raspberry puree – and now they were loaded carefully on to the truck. .JPG "TCs ready for loading")
After transfer to the transport cage, Bloom is moved out of the building ready for loading onto the truck.
Poor Sprout was so stressed throughout, and despite what must have been whole bunches of chopped bananas gently encouraging her from cage to cage over the next two hours, her nerves got the better of her and she stayed firmly put in her original cage. Vets Huong and Han decided that the government cage was robust and would be safe to feed and clean Sprout on the road, and she too was now loaded onto the back of the truck.
.JPG "moving to the truck")
Bloom is moved to the truck for loading.
Soon, we were waving Mr Ha and the officials farewell as we piled into the bus ready to follow our three new bears home to their new sanctuary in Bach Ma National Park in central Vietnam. 
Animals Asia's truck - a secure space for the bears on the journey home.
The next two days went by in a blur as the most dedicated carers, led by our Bach Ma Sanctuary Manager, Thuy, stopped every two or three hours to water, feed and clean the bears, to make notes of anything unique about every individual; to record if they ate or left kibble, how calm or reactive they were, and perhaps remember if one liked carrots, or another liked pears. Notes that would not only help on the journey but once they arrived back at the sanctuary, to assist with their ongoing care.
Stops are made along the way to feed and water the bears and check on their well-being.
At the back of the truck, we could hear Bud vocalising and moving around, now that the anaesthetic had worn off. Vet Han had been on a mission to determine the gender of this bear, and was now almost certain that Bud was a female. With that news announced, there were sheepish smiles all round knowing that this gorgeous, boyish bear had fooled almost the entire team.
.JPG "Bud loading")
Our bear Bud at loading time.
As the feeding breaks continued along the road, we wondered what the bears would be thinking each time. Previously on the farm, with groups of people around them, this would often have meant one thing – the painful extraction of their bile. Now people gathering around them heralded only gentle voices, water bowls filled and a rich rainbow tapestry of dragon fruits, apples, carrots, oranges, bananas and kibble.
On the road bear care every two to three hours.
Being at the back of the truck where the doors open to the outside world, Sprout took on the role of gate-keeper – and gave warning "huffs" as our team of carers hopped nimbly inside and began chopping up their food. After a few seconds, all three curious faces turned towards the delicious smells as something told them that these strange, but tempting, delights were all for them. Noses exploring, food bowls emptying, and we could even celebrate such milestones that they were pooping normally too!
All of the bears have dry, cracked pads from years of standing only on cage bars.
Initial observations of them all revealed that there were wounds on Bloom's head from previous head rubbing on the bars of her farmed cage, and all three bears had cracked and calloused pads from the years of standing only on cage bars. Future health checks will inevitably reveal more but, for now, they were bright, curious and feisty – and alive.
On the second day, they continued to do well. it was clear that they continued to eye us with caution as they ate, but perhaps just a little less suspiciously than before. We knew that it would be a while before they would trust people for the very first time, but meanwhile, it was special to see them exploring food that they had never tasted before. Sprout suspiciously picked a piece of dragon fruit out of her bowl, before placing it on the back of her "dinner plate" paw. And sniffed. Finally reassured that this morsel was really OK to eat, she tucked in with gusto. I couldn't help smiling, knowing that once she enjoyed such treats every day, and her confidence had returned, she would likely become picky with her food!
And what must they have thought when everyone jumped back off the truck? Nothing hurt them, tummies full, before the truck doors closed, and the rumble of the road lulled them back to sleep.
Bud, Bloom and Sprout arrive at the Bach Ma Bear Rescue Centre.
Finally, we rolled into Bach Ma that evening – and again I wondered what on earth they were thinking. From a dingy bear farm in a noisy street of Hanoi, to the forest of the National Park, with its choir of langurs hooting, birds singing, and the vision and smell of nature all around.
.JPG "Bloom enters quarantine")
Bloom enters the Quarantine Area at Bach Ma, where the three bears will spend time adjusting to their new surroundings.
I think we all shed a tear as Bear Manager Ellie and team slickly offloaded them all from the truck and transferred them into quarantine. Here they'll spend 30 days being cared for, understood and loved, until finally being integrated together with new friends, and placing bar-weary paws onto sweet earthy grass.
.JPG "transfer to large quarantine cage")
Bud transfers into her double-size quarantine cage - the first step on the road to her recovery.
Over those two remarkable and emotional days, I thanked the heavens for a team whose only focus was those three broken bears. Professional, seamless and smiling throughout as they joined together to give these bears sanctuary. Bud, Bloom and Sprout are home.
And with endless gratitude to all the government departments of Vietnam who are implementing the full letter of the law and helping these animals to finally take their steps from farms to freedom.
X690.JPG "Group photo")
Thanks to Mr Ha, Mr Linh and the FPD Phung Thuong team whose tireless work resulted in this rescue.
And last but not least, our deepest thanks to those reading this Blog who have helped us to reach and rescue 703 bears, and to those who will help us free more. The promise we have made together draws closer… … as no bear is left behind.
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