Another Bear Rescue!

Over ten months ago, after receiving complaints from several tourists, we visited a fish market at a port in Ranong to investigate the living conditions of two Malayan sun bears that were being kept there as pets. We were shocked at the conditions the bears were in, kept in rusty metal cages devoid of enrichments, in the middle of a busy market, surrounded by constant noise and crowds of people. Under the roof there, they could not see the sky or even smell fresh air. The biggest bear, Oumpoom, had been there for over 5 years and is very overweight due to a bad diet full of sugar. The smaller bear, Apec, was held in a 1x2 metre cage with barely any room to move around. As well as being a totally unsuitable living environment for the bears, their presence at the port posed a considerable danger to the local people in the event that they ever escaped from their rusty cages.

Oumpoom at the fish market.

Initially the owner was unwilling to give the bears up and over the past months Edwin has spoken to her on several occasions to try to explain why they should not be living there. However, after seeing Edwin and the rescue centre on local television and also a feature on CNN in recent weeks, she was persuaded to change her mind and handed both bears over to us. After the long drive back to the centre, the bears were released into their spacious new home. Both seemed very confused and first and it took a while for them to get used to the feeling of space. They were very unsure of the feeling of grass under their feet after so long living on concrete and metal.

Oumpoom explores the grass for the first time in five years!

Nosy neighbors check out the new arrivals.