Int’l, Vietnamese stars join hands for bear protection campaign

The Vietnam Bear Rescue Center and Animals Asia launched a #NoBearLeftBehind campaign on Wednesday with the goal of rescuing all bears held in captivity throughout Vietnam and putting an end to the practice of bear bile collection.

American actress Tara Buck, American actress and former fashion model Torrey Devitto, American television actress Marina Squerciati, Australian TV star Josh Packham, and Vietnamese actress and model Tang Thanh Ha participated in the campaign launch.

The celebrities joined bear care and rescue tasks, such as preparing food, as well as teaching bears to look for food and playing with them in semi-natural areas at the Vietnam Bear Rescue Center in northern Vinh Phuc Province, currently home to more than 192 bears rescued from bear bile farms across the country.

During an event held to announce the launch of the campaign, actress Squerciati said she expected her TV stardom to help attract people to acknowledge the campaign's message of protecting bears.

From left to right: American actress and former fashion model Torrey Joel Devitto, American actress Tara Buck, American television actress Marina Squerciati, and Australian TV star Josh Packham attend the launch of the #NoBearLeftBehind campaign at the Vietnam Bear Rescue Center in Vinh Phuc Province, northern Vietnam, May 25, 2022. Photo: Ha Thanh / Tuoi Tre

According to statistics, more than 300 bears are currently being held on farms in Vietnam, often for the purpose of bile extraction using invasive, painful, and life-threatening techniques.

Through the #NoBearLeftBehind campaign, Animals Asia, which seeks to end cruelty to animals on the continent, is urging animal lovers around the world to support and contribute to the construction of a second site for the Vietnam Bear Rescue Center in central Thua Thien-Hue Province.

Construction of the 12.7-hectare project is expected to be complete in 2026.

It will be able to accommodate over 300 bears rescued from private bear farms and other bear rescue operations.

Its goal is to end private bear farming that same year.

Australian writer Jan Sardi (L) and Vietnamese actress Tang Thanh Ha attend the launch event for the #NoBearLeftBehind campaign at the Vietnam Bear Rescue Center in Vinh Phuc Province, northern Vietnam, May 25, 2022. Photo: Ha Thanh / Tuoi Tre

The rescued bears will be conserved under a program which aims to eventually reintroduce them to the wild.

Animals Asia pledged to provide non-refundable aid of US$10.5 million to back the program.

The Hong Kong-based charity organization also kicked off a worldwide fundraising campaign and has planned to premiere an animated film focused on bear protection in Vietnam and on social media on Friday.

American actress Tara Buck (L) and television actress Marina Squerciati prepare food for rescued bears at the Vietnam Bear Rescue Center in Vinh Phuc Province, northern Vietnam, May 25, 2022. Photo: Ha Thanh / Tuoi Tre

American actress and former fashion model Torrey Joel Devitto prepares food for rescued bears at the Vietnam Bear Rescue Center in Vinh Phuc Province, northern Vietnam, May 25, 2022. Photo: Ha Thanh / Tuoi Tre

A bear is cared for at the Vietnam Bear Rescue Center in Vinh Phuc Province, northern Vietnam, May 25, 2022. Photo: Ha Thanh / Tuoi Tre

Medical staff tend to a bear at the Vietnam Bear Rescue Center in Vinh Phuc Province, northern Vietnam, May 25, 2022. Photo: Minh Hoang / Tuoi Tre

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