Vietnam’s captive bears dying off

Un-bear-able: Veterinarians from animal conservation group Four Pawsinspecting the health of a sedated bear during a rescue operation from a bear bile extraction facility in Thai Nguyen province, Vietnam. — AFP

Thai Nguyen (Vietnam): Two moon bears are gently removed from the cramped cages where they have been held for 13 years, rescuers carefully checking their rotten teeth and matted paws before sending them to their new home in a grassy sanctuary in northern Vietnam.

The animals are among the lucky few to be rescued in a country where hundreds of bears are feared to have been killed or starved to death as the cost of once-valuable farmed bile has plummeted.