How Animals Asia saved a moon bear after decades in a cage

This Moon Bear has rediscovered happiness after spending almost 25 years in a rusty cage. Now, thanks to rehabilitation in a sanctuary managed by Animals Asia, she seems to have been reborn

Crescent is a female Moon Bear, a species still exploited in the bile industry in Vietnam. She comes from one of these farms and knows all too well the suffering her kind has to bear.

She had spent almost a quarter of a century in this small cage, rusty, and forgotten. Hard tartar layered her teeth, and painful calluses were evident on her body. This existence had dulled every sense of life until Animals Asia rescued her after 23 years.

Determined to make an irreversible change, the owner of Crescent contacted the staff of the non-profit and offered to voluntarily surrender her into their care. The mission was accomplished just as Animals Asia was celebrating 26 years of activity: “A perfect birthday gift”, volunteers who were there that day remembered.

Once she got to the bear rescue center of the organization, after a month in quarantine, Crescent started to get slowly more interactive with other Moon Bears. Now, day by day, she is discovering and savoring a new world.

“Rescue is just the beginning: it’s the guarantee of care for their entire life. This is our commitment to these magnificent creatures,” Animals Asia wrote on Instagram.

It will take time, of course, for her to get fully accustomed to this new adventure, but there’s no rush. To watch her explore a part of the sanctuary, seemingly with a smile on her face, is quite beyond words from the entire Animals Asia team.

Animals Asia forms a beaming ray of hope for Moon Bears. The foundation runs two sanctuaries, one in China and one in Vietnam, that house these animals and take care of them for the rest of their lives. Among the many bears are Buzz and Armstrong, who finally enjoy their freedom from exploitation in the sanctuaries.

Source: Animals Asia/Instagram