Aboutu 30 km south of Luang Prabang lie the magnificent Kuang Si Waterfalls. A visit to the falls is considered a highlight of the region, but there's something else special about the Kuang Si Nature Park: it's also the home to the Laos Bear Rescue Center.
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| entrance to the Bear Rescue Center |
The Bear Rescue Center is a sanctuary for Asiatic black bears (including sun bears and moon bears) who have been rescued by the government from poachers. The thousand year-old traditional medicine industry has proven disastrous for the region's bear populations. Bear bile is believed to contain certain magical properties, and is believed by some to be a sort of wonder medicine. Bears are caught by poachers, kept in tiny cages, and milked for their bile. It's absolutely heartbreaking.
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| Asiatic Black Bears |
The bear sanctuary is instrumental in rescuing, rehabilitating, protecting, and caring for bears that have been saved from this illegal trade. They have a huge natural habitat at Kuang Si, where they are given the best health care and protection to live out their lives in safety.
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| bears in their habitat |
The sanctuary was the idea of an Australian grandmother who started the project in 1993 after watching a documentary about the terrible bear black market. The first sanctuary was constructed in Cambodia, and the sanctuary in Laos and one in Vietnam soon followed.
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| the bear habitat |
When you visit the bear sanctuary, you get the chance to see these playful bears living their lives happily in their habitat. The sanctuary also provides lots of information about the bears and how people can help save them.
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| Sic'em! |
It's not exactly a zoo, but they do rotate some of the bears from their huge habitat into a glass enclosure where visitors can watch them play. These were the most active bears that I've ever seen! They were really playing with all of their toys and swings and having fun.
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| bears playing |
One bear was especially enjoying tumbling around on his swing.
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| so funny! |
Even though a visit to the bear sanctuary was just a detour on the way to the Kuang Si Falls, it ended up being a highlight of the day.
Learn more at their official website:
https://freethebears.org/
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