Free the Bears

Our Story

Free the Bears and other wildlife conservation organisations are working with governments to strengthen laws and increase capacity for enforcement, working with traditional medicine practitioners to promote synthetic and herbal alternatives to bear bile, and addressing consumer demand with education campaigns about the cruelty inflicted upon bears in farms.

We're beginning to see positive results from these efforts. In a recent study of Vietnamese bear bile farmers, farmers reported a substantial reduction in consumer demand for bear bile. Worryingly, they also reported a substantial reduction in food budgets for bears, increasing the urgency to rescue these bears before it's too late.

We never pay for bears (paying for bears would contribute to a market for wildlife). We work with government authorities who confiscate bears (and other illegally held wildlife), handing them over to Free the Bears for rescue and rehabilitation.

Free the Bears works with communities, schools and organisations across Asia to change attitudes and raise awareness of the wildlife trade. We work with universities and other institutions who conduct critical research. We also work with government, law enforcement agencies and other charities to create and implement a framework to combat wildlife traders.

Despite each country facing a unique set of challenges and issues to overcome, we will continually strive to achieve our mission of protecting, preserving and enriching the lives of bears throughout the world. Free the Bears.

For more information about Our Story, CLICK HERE

OUR VISION

A world where bears are valued as an integral part of the natural environment and are no longer exploited or abused

OUR MISSION

To protect, preserve and enrich the lives of bears throughout the world

STRATEGIC AIMS

Create and support world-class bear sanctuaries; government owned, managed to the highest level of welfare and striving towards long-term sustainability
Develop alternative sustainable livelihood programmes for the community to prevent impoverished families from exploiting bears for profit
Strengthen wildlife law enforcement efforts through advocacy and training
Protect wild bear populations through community-led efforts and increased understanding of wild bear populations
Build the capacity of local partners and staff including government authorities, veterinarians, researchers, school-teachers, and animal care staff

ACHIEVEMENTS

2020

Free the Bears founder Dr Mary Hutton OAM awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia for her services to conservation & the environment
BBC releases docuseries "Bears About the House", filmed throughout 2019 at Free the Bears Luang Prabang Wildlife Sanctuary, garnering millions of viewers
Second major release of rehabilitated wildlife to protected forest in Laos
Four more bears rescued from bile farms in Vietnam, all caged for over 18 years, making more provinces in Vietnam bear bile farm free

For more information about Achievements, CLICK HERE