Right now in some areas of Asia there are moon bears locked in cages slightly larger than their bodies. They remain immobile for years, unable to move, subjected to repeated bile extractions, a practice that causes infections, chronic pain and irreversible trauma. Many are captured as cubs, separated from their mothers, and spend up to thirty years in conditions that slowly wear away their bodies and minds.
The so-called bile farms, still present in Vietnam, are the symbol of a system that transforms a wild animal into a biological machine to be exploited. The wounds are not just physical: stereotyped behaviors, self-harm, depression are signs of prolonged suffering that leaves invisible scars.
The history of Sky
Among those scarred faces was Sky, a bear found in a facility in Lao Cai province. When he was freed, his body spoke of years of imprisonment: obesity due to immobility, large areas without hair, deep scars caused by continuous rubbing against the bars. A desperate attempt to react to a space that denied any natural instinct.
Today Sky lives in a specialized sanctuary, where he has begun a slow recovery journey. He rediscovered the grass under his paws, the fresh water, the possibility of digging and climbing. But above all he was finally able to see the sky, that sky that he had never been able to admire. The operators say that the first contacts with other bears were shy but full of curiosity, as if he were learning the language of freedom again.
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A battle that is not over
Despite progress made in recent years, around 150 bears still remain trapped on Vietnamese farms. Organizations like Animals Asia work to negotiate releases, ensure veterinary care and provide permanent shelter for rescued animals. It is a complex operation that requires economic resources, adequate structures and highly trained personnel.
Recovery is not immediate: many bears arrive with liver disease, chronic infections and behavioral disorders. Rehabilitation can last months, sometimes years. But the results demonstrate that even after decades of imprisonment it is possible to restore dignity and quality of life.
The definitive closure of bile farms in Vietnam, as fortunately happened in South Korea, is a fundamental objective to be achieved. It would mean shelving one of the most controversial practices linked to animal exploitation. For Sky the story has already changed. For the other bears still behind bars, the game is on. And time, for them, continues to flow slowly.
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