30/08/2022
π» Wildlife Crime Hotline 1601 π
If you see wildlife that you think needs rescuing whilst you're traveling through Laos, please know that there's a hotline to report this. (As heartbreaking as it may be, please don't buy wildlife, this shows hunters and sellers that the illegal wildlife trade is worth it).
See the video below for a bear cub that is currently being rescued by Free the Bears from a cage at a resort in the North after a tourist reported it! β€οΈ
The hotline is being coordinated by
Lao Conservation Trust for Wildlife, who are together with Free the Bears currently the only reputable wildlife rescue center in the country. If you don't want to call, you can message them as well to report wildlife in need.
Thank you!
via Maddie Ezra Florence
BREAKING NEWS, Laos. ANOTHER BEAR CUB! Last night our government partners informed us of a moon bear cub illegally held at a resort, which had been reported by a tourist. The cub is in the same province as the other 2 cubs we're hoping to rescue. Our Animal Manager Mr Lar & bear carer Mr Pon have set off on the long journey through the mountains, hoping to reach all 3 cubs by tomorrow. Watch this space for updates.
This is eerily similar to a situation which happened exactly 3 years ago. In August 2019 our government partners from the same province, Luang Namtha, asked us to rescue 2 small moon bears cubs. After we arrived they informed us that they'd found another 3 orphaned cubs illegally held in 2 other locations. With armed police escorts we managed to rescue 5 bear cubs in a day, a record! Watch the '5 Bear Cubs In a Day' rescue video here: https://youtu.be/8MNxOR59Avg
The rescues just keep coming, placing enormous pressure on our small charity. If you are not already, please help us cope with all the rescues (& help rescue more bears) by joining our family of Bear Carers, involving a small monthly donation (less than the cost of a coffee each week). If we can find many willing to give a little, together we can have a massive impact. Thank you. Become a Bear Carer here: https://freethebears.org/pages/bear-carer
Or donate a Cub Care Kit here: https://freethebears.org/collections/gifts-for-bears/products/cub-care-kit
Special thanks to our government partners from Luang Namtha Department of Forest Inspection, Laos. Special thanks also to the tourists who reported this cub. Public participation & activism plays such an important role in helping tackle the illegal wildlife trade. If you ever see endangered wildlife for sale or caged, please report it to authorities.