The family of Nguyen Van Thao in Phung Thuong Commune, Phuc Tho District, Hanoi on Thursday voluntarily handed over seven Tibetan bears, estimated to be 18-20 years old each, to the Animals Asia Foundation.

Thao’s family surrenderred the bears, which have registration chips, after being encouraged by local authorities, according to the Hanoi Forest Protection Division under the capital city’s agricultural department.

The seven Tibetan bears were transported to the Vietnam Bear Rescue Center at Tam Dao National Park in Vinh Phuc Province for further care and preservation.

Thao’s family is the first one in Hanoi to voluntarily stop raising such bears for commercial purposes.

This is a significant milestone in relevant agencies' awareness campaigns.

Phung Thuong Commune has the highest number of Tibetan bears raised by families in Vietnam, with 122 Tibetan bears in 18 households and private farms, according to the Animals Asia Foundation and the Hanoi Forest Protection Division.

Government bodies have raised awareness of the bear protection since 2016.

With a civilized, friendly, flexible, and positive approach, the Animals Asia Foundation and the Hanoi Forest Protection Division have joined hands with local authorities and schools in Hanoi in holding conferences to call on households raising wildlife to stop their practice.

The Hanoi Forest Protection Division has rescued 12 bears from Hanoi, Dien Bien Province, and Son La Province and transferred them to the Vietnam Bear Rescue Center after initiating the #NoBearLeftBehind campaign in late May this year.

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