Healthy and happy looking moon bear on grassy enclosure facing camera

Healing the mind

After years of isolation, pain and suffering, trauma doesn’t disappear overnight. Some bears arrive so shut down they barely react – withdrawn, unresponsive, lost in protective silence.

It’s called learned helplessness. And it takes time, love and patience to begin unravelling it.

At Animals Asia, we believe that healing the mind is just as vital as healing the body.

Rebuilding trust

A bear’s emotional healing begins the moment they arrive at sanctuary.

In those first days – while they’re still in quarantine – our team starts gently undoing the emotional damage of captivity. If a bear flinches at the sound of a door opening, or curls into a ball if someone approaches, we respond with gente, quiet, consistent care.

Carers sit nearby, offering their presence, soft voices and treats – helping the bear slowly start to associate humans with calm, safety and kindness. This process of desensitisation, done at the bear’s pace, lays the foundation for everything that follows.

Some bears respond quickly. Others take years. But with species-specific care and deep compassion, even the most traumatised individuals can rediscover trust, curiosity – and eventually, joy.

Case study: Dawn

Dawn arrived after 20 years on a bear bile farm so traumatised she was completely shut down. But with gentle reassurance and steady support, Dawn began to trust.

Find out how we helped Dawn heal emotionally.

 

Creating comfort and safety

Everything in our sanctuaries is designed to support mental recovery:

  • Natural surroundings

  • Predictable routines and peaceful nights

  • Comfortable dens, gentle lighting and private space

  • Rediscovering and encouraging natural behaviours

  • Positive reinforcement

  • Species-specific enrichment and diets
A moon bear balances on a high-up log, peering through its hind legs and looking at the camera.
Holly rediscovers the simple joy of climbing

A life of choice and cooperation

Emotional healing can begin when bears are given back control over their own lives.

That’s why we’ve developed a groundbreaking Cooperative Care program – a gentle, choice-based approach that allows bears to participate in their own healthcare, without fear or force.

Through positive reinforcement and deep trust, bears learn to present a paw for blood draws, open their mouths for dental checks, or enter transport cages calmly – all because they feel safe.

Each bear heals in their own time

We meet each individual exactly where they are, and do everything at their pace.

Because each bear has one precious life. And they deserve to live it free from fear.

Find out how trauma affects bears

For bears rescued from bile farms, emotional recovery is slow, complex and deeply personal. At our sanctuaries, expert care and compassion help traumatised bears find joy, and trust again.

Discover how we work with traumatised bears