Free the Bears Fund was set up in 1993 by Mary Hutton in Western Australia, following a television current affairs program containing bear farming footage. This segment changed her life and, under her energetic leadership, what started as a petition soon gathered momentum. Today Free the Bears are active throughout South and South East Asia, including Cambodia, Laos, Thailand, Vietnam and India, rescuing sun bears, Asiatic black bears and sloth bears.
They are involved in a wide range of activities, facilitating bear conservation in these key regions where wild bear populations are threatened by rampant illegal wildlife trade and habitat loss. The Fund supports the enforcement and review of wildlife legislation, funding and creation of new sanctuaries for the placement of rescued bears, raising awareness worldwide and providing crucial information and support to local communities as responsible custodians of bears and their habitat.
To date, Free the Bears have helped in the establishment of eleven sanctuaries for bears throughout Asia, enabling the rescue of more than 600 bears. These habitats were put in place to encourage law enforcement, knowing that without them, the animals could not be confiscated and wildlife traders can continue to disregard national and international laws.
The Tat Kuang Si Bear Rescue Centre, situated near the beautiful town of Luang Prabang in Laos, is now home to 23 bears. It is set within beautiful woodlands, providing the bears with an ideal environment, trees for climbing, running streams to cool down and plenty of foraging opportunities. Specially constructed night dens and plans for expansion make this a perfect rescue centre. The Tat Kuang Si Bear rescue Centre also has an educational function, welcoming over 200,000 visitors each year, both from Laos and from further afield, who come to learn about bears and discover the wonderful wildlife of the region.
Education and assistance to indigenous people and communities are an essential part of Free the Bears Fund's longer term commitment to finding solutions to the illegal wildlife trade. This program also includes the creation of conservation areas and educational programs as well as rehabilitation projects that would allow the reintroduction of animals in the wild.
Please take a moment to visit their website, read about their work and meet their bears, including Hauser the cub who was rescued along with his sister in March 2010.