Unlike our beloved teddy bears, wild bears don’t always get a carefree existence, they are threatened by habitat destruction and poaching.
Fortunately, over the past few decades, one wildlife organisation has made it their mission to “protect, preserve and enrich” the lives of bears across Asia and around the world!
With two rescues and a well-deserved honour, 2020 has already been an eventful year for our conservation partner, Free the Bears.
Image source: Free the Bears
An injured Sun Bear cub was their first rescue, brought to their Cambodia bear sanctuary in early January.
The female cub weighed just 12kgs. She had encountered a snare trap and was found covered in scars across her legs with a wounded toe.
A rescue update on Free the Bears Facebook page said: “She is a little shy and wary still, no doubt traumatised by the awful events suffered during her short life.”
Fortunately, she has since settled in at the rescue centre and is now receiving the very best care.
Image source: Free the Bears
Within a few days Free the Bears welcomed their second rescue in Cambodia, a male Moon Bear cub sedated and trapped in a tiny cage.
With the help of the ‘Wildlife Rapid Rescue Team’ a crane was used to move the cage to safety before it could be cut open. The four-year-old bear has now started a much happier life at the rescue sanctuary.
He is the 209th Cambodian rescue for Free the Bears.
Image source: Free the Bears
Back home in Australia, the founder of the organisation, Dr Mary Hutton, was recently awarded the medal of the Order of Australia by the Governor-General.
Mary, a Perth grandmother, started Free the Bears in 1993 and inspired others to join her cause, since then over 950 bears have been rescued across Asia. Amazing!
Image source: Free the Bears
Our own Sun Bears, 18-year-old Jamran and 16-year-old Bopha were rescued in Cambodia by Free the Bears many years ago.
They found their ‘furever’ home with us at Perth Zoo in 2007 coinciding with our long running partnership with Free the Bears.
Before being rescued, their early years of life were unbearable! Bopha was being kept illegally as a pet (the only bears at home should be of the ‘teddy’ variety) and poor Jamran was found tied to a wooden pole out the front of a restaurant, destined to be turned into ‘bear paw soup.’
Life at the Zoo is much more ‘pawsitive’ for our Sun Bears with their zoologists dedicated to keeping them healthy and happy.
Join us on Sunday, March 8th For our annual Teddy Bears Picnic at the Zoo. You can see how life has improved for Jamran and Bopha and learn more about the rescue work of Free the Bears.
Don’t forget to bring your teddy bear!
We’re able to support Free the Bears thanks to the generous donations we receive from YOU. Thank you for helping us secure a future for bears in need!
Melissa Leo- Perth Zoo Media & Communications Officer.