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All Laos Ban Long Tat Kuang Si Bear Rescue Centre

Tat Kuang Si Bear Rescue Centre

Buried in the Laos jungle is a sanctuary for bears that would have otherwise been milked to death by poachers.

Ban Long, Laos

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Eric Grundhauser
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Tat Kuang Si Bear Rescue Centre   shankar s. on Flickr
Tat Kuang Si Bear Rescue Centre   shankar s. on Flickr
Tat Kuang Si Bear Rescue Centre   istolethetv on Flickr
Tat Kuang Si Bear Rescue Centre   Madeleine Deaton on Flickr
Tat Kuang Si Bear Rescue Centre   shankar s. on Flickr
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Swinging in hammocks, playing with tires and generally frolicking in a wonderland made just for the them, the bears at the Tat Kuang Si Bear Rescue Centre have plenty to be happy about since they were all rescued from poachers looking to harvest their parts. 

Operated by Free the Bears, a fund set up to save imperiled ursines across the globe, the Tat Kuang Si Bear Rescue Centre caters specifically to the Asian black bear. The bile from the black bear's gall bladder is a common component in traditional Chinese medicine, and unfortunately a brutal black market has sprung up around milking the animals for their vital juices. Kept in inhumane conditions, the illegally trapped bears would be repeatedly harvested so long as they could survive in their tiny cages. In addition, the animals are often poached to be used as food or even pets.

Tragic origins aside, the bears at the rescue center lead a fulfilling life in the open enclosures that provide enough space and stimulation to keep the animals happy and healthy.

Visitors to the refuge can stroll along the wooden paths and view the adorable (if grizzly) beasts as they lounge, play and generally look more cuddly than killer. There are also informative signs that inform guests of the plight of the Asian black bear, but even the sad facts can't keep the rescued bears from being utterly heartwarming.       

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Bears Animals Sanctuaries

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Located 30 km southwest of Luang Prabang, the Centre is located at the foot of the trail to Kuang Si Waterfall.

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Added By

EricGrundhauser

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drewg

  • drewg

Published

February 13, 2014

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Sources
  • http://www.theintrepidfoundation.org/projects/tat-kuang-si-bear-rescue-centre/
  • http://www.traveller.com.au/the-climb-to-freedom-eb9c
  • http://www.wildlifeasia.org.au/wildlife-asia-projects/free-the-bears/
Tat Kuang Si Bear Rescue Centre
Ban Long
Laos
19.751434, 101.996392
Visit Website

Nearby Places

Kuang Si Waterfalls

Ban Long, Laos

miles away

Tham Sakkarin Savannakuha

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Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Ban Long

Ban Long

Laos

Places 2

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Kuang Si Waterfalls

Ban Long, Laos

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Photo of Ban Long

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