An Asian black bear with two amputated front paws has finally learned how to walk again.

The bear, named Hai Chan, was rescued in November after being held captive for ten years as a bile bear. Stomach bile is illegally harvested from living bears in parts of Southeast Asia, where it has been used in traditional Chinese medicine for thousands of years. Yet the practice causes suffering to the animals, and governments have taken steps to end the tradition.

Hai Chan was rescued by FOUR PAWS, an international animal welfare organization, and was brought to safety at Ninh Binh, a new bear sanctuary in northeast Vietnam. Two other rescued Asian bears have also been taken there over the past few months.

Veterinarians