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Bear Chinh’s Rescue After 19 Years In Captivity

Chinh smiles through bars.
Chinh smiles through bars. Screenshot from Welcome Home #Bear Chinh! | Bear Rescued from Bile Farm Settles in at Sanctuary | FOUR PAWS USA Source: YouTube, Uploaded: FOUR PAWS USA

Asiatic black bear Chinh was finally rescued after enduring 19 years of captivity in Vietnam. There, his life was spent in a small, filthy cage, where he suffered immensely. However, thanks to Four Paws, Chinh’s journey to freedom began with a daring rescue mission.

Life in Captivity

Asiatic Black bear
Chinh peaks out from under the rock. Screenshot from Welcome Home #Bear Chinh! | Bear Rescued from Bile Farm Settles in at Sanctuary | FOUR PAWS USA Source: YouTube, Uploaded: FOUR PAWS USA

For nearly two decades, Chinh was held in deplorable conditions. Moreover, his captors used him for bile extraction, a painful process that left him in constant distress. Living in a tiny cage, he had no room to move or experience a natural life.

The Cruelty of Bile Extraction

Chinh during transport.
Chinh during transport. Screenshot from Welcome Home #Bear Chinh! | Bear Rescued from Bile Farm Settles in at Sanctuary | FOUR PAWS USA Source: YouTube, Uploaded: FOUR PAWS USA

Bile extraction is a brutal practice where bile is taken from live bears for traditional medicine. Disgustingly, this process involves inserting a needle into the bear’s gallbladder, causing severe pain and often infections. Sadly, Chinh endured this suffering for years, with no hope of escape.

Four Paws Intervention

Site of bear sanctuary.
Site of bear sanctuary. Screenshot from Welcome Home #Bear Chinh! | Bear Rescued from Bile Farm Settles in at Sanctuary | FOUR PAWS USA Source: YouTube, Uploaded: FOUR PAWS USA

Four Paws, an international animal welfare organization, stepped in to save Chinh. They received information about his captivity and began planning his rescue. Immediately, their goal was to free him from the horrors he had endured for so long.

The Rescue Mission

Chinh receiving much needed care.
Chinh receiving much needed care. Screenshot from Welcome Home #Bear Chinh! | Bear Rescued from Bile Farm Settles in at Sanctuary | FOUR PAWS USA Source: YouTube, Uploaded: FOUR PAWS USA

The rescue mission was carefully planned and executed by the Four Paws team. When the day finally came, they traveled to the remote location where Chinh was held and negotiated his release. After years of suffering, Chinh was finally freed from his cage!

Chinh’s First Moments of Freedom

Setting up Chinh's enclosure.
Setting up Chinh’s enclosure. Screenshot from Welcome Home #Bear Chinh! | Bear Rescued from Bile Farm Settles in at Sanctuary | FOUR PAWS USA Source: YouTube, Uploaded: FOUR PAWS USA

Chinh’s first moments of freedom were emotional for the rescue team. At first, he was hesitant to emerge, but soon started exploring his surroundings with curiosity. This emersion was the first time in years that Chinh experienced fresh air and sunlight. What a feeling of relief that must have been for this poor bear.

The Journey to the Sanctuary

An elaborate setup to care for Chinh.
An elaborate setup to care for Chinh. Screenshot from Welcome Home #Bear Chinh! | Bear Rescued from Bile Farm Settles in at Sanctuary | FOUR PAWS USA Source: YouTube, Uploaded: FOUR PAWS USA

After his rescue, Chinh was transported to a Four Paws sanctuary. The journey was a long 2 day affair, but the team ensured he was comfortable and safe throughout the whole thing. Finally, this sanctuary would become Chinh’s new home, where he could heal and recover.

Settling into a New Life

Chinh is fed while being rescued.
Chinh is fed while being rescued. Screenshot from Welcome Home #Bear Chinh! | Bear Rescued from Bile Farm Settles in at Sanctuary | FOUR PAWS USA Source: YouTube, Uploaded: FOUR PAWS USA

At the sanctuary, Chinh was introduced to a spacious enclosure filled with natural elements. He was given access to fresh food, water, and medical care for the first time in years. Slowly, he began to adjust to his new life of freedom and heal from his troubled past.

Medical Care and Rehabilitation

Chinh cools down in his transport crate.
Chinh cools down in his transport crate. Screenshot from Welcome Home #Bear Chinh! | Bear Rescued from Bile Farm Settles in at Sanctuary | FOUR PAWS USA Source: YouTube, Uploaded: FOUR PAWS USA

Chinh required extensive medical care due to the years of neglect and abuse. In fact, he spent the first month in quarantine in order to receive treatment for diseases that could spread to other bears. Throughout his quarantine, veterinarians at the sanctuary treated his physical wounds and monitored his health closely. Slowly but surely, Chinh showed signs of improvement every day moving towards rehabilitation.

Emotional Healing

Chinh is fed in his transport crate.
Chinh is fed in his transport crate. Screenshot from Welcome Home #Bear Chinh! | Bear Rescued from Bile Farm Settles in at Sanctuary | FOUR PAWS USA Source: YouTube, Uploaded: FOUR PAWS USA

In addition to physical healing, Chinh needed time to recover emotionally. Understandably, the trauma of his past life left deep scars, but with time and care, he began to trust his caretakers. Importantly, the sanctuary provided him with the peace and safety he had never known before that aided in this healing.

Life at the Sanctuary

Chinh lies on the grass.
Chinh lies on the grass. Screenshot from Welcome Home #Bear Chinh! | Bear Rescued from Bile Farm Settles in at Sanctuary | FOUR PAWS USA Source: YouTube, Uploaded: FOUR PAWS USA

Chinh now lives in a safe and nurturing environment, surrounded by natural beauty. Here, he spends his days exploring, foraging, and resting in a peaceful setting. Beautifully, the sanctuary offers him the chance to live the rest of his life free from fear and pain and alongside other rescued bears.

Inspiring Change

Chinh is free at last.
Chinh is free at last. Screenshot from Welcome Home #Bear Chinh! | Bear Rescued from Bile Farm Settles in at Sanctuary | FOUR PAWS USA Source: YouTube, Uploaded: FOUR PAWS USA

Chinh’s story has inspired many to take action against the cruel practice of bile extraction. Four Paws continues to work tirelessly to rescue other bears like Chinh, but unfortunately there are always more bears in need. Chinh’s rescue highlights the importance of compassion and the impact of dedicated animal welfare efforts in reaching these animals.

Conclusion

Rescued bears together at the sanctuary.
Rescued bears together at the sanctuary. Screenshot from Welcome Home #Bear Chinh! | Bear Rescued from Bile Farm Settles in at Sanctuary | FOUR PAWS USA Source: YouTube, Uploaded: FOUR PAWS USA

Bear Chinh’s rescue is a testament to the power of hope and resilience. After years of suffering, he now has the opportunity to live a life filled with care and kindness. Now, his story is a reminder of the importance of protecting animals and advocating for their well-being.

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