Nova and Lyra – from cobwebbed cages to a final chapter of love

They had waited 20 years in darkness.

Cobwebs clung to the bars of their cages. Dust settled on their fur. Every day was the same – nothing to do but wait for the next awful thing to happen.

When we first saw them in a bear bile farm in Yen Bai province this April, Nova and Lyra were living reminders of why bear bile farming must end. Both were registered in 2004 – legally kept under a loophole that allows farmers to keep bile bears as “private property” if they were microchipped before the ban on bile extraction came into force. For two decades, they had been forgotten in the shadows.

With the support of the Yen Bai authorities, we secured their voluntary surrender and brought them to our Bach Ma bear rescue centre – a journey made possible by years of patient negotiation and trust built with our government partners.

Moments of light

On the journey to sanctuary, Nova woke to sunlight for the first time in decades – a moment that went viral around the world. Soon after arriving, he stepped outside for the first time, exploring with the joy and curiosity of a bear finally free. Seeing him experience that moment of freedom filled us with hope.

But most moon bears we rescue now are over 20 years old. Their bodies carry the lifelong damage of bear bile extraction – organ disease, arthritis, neurological disorders – that even the best veterinary care cannot always undo. Only a few weeks later, Nova’s health declined suddenly after a short illness. He passed away peacefully under the watch of his carers.

Lyra, always gentle and deliberate, found comfort in a low basket in his den. With careful physiotherapy and adjustments to make life easier, he began to enjoy his new surroundings. But later, a diagnosis of severe, untreatable brain disease left us with the heartbreaking decision to let him go.

Time is running out

There are still hundreds of bears trapped in private homes and bile farms across the country. Many will not survive long enough to see Vietnam’s deadline for ending bear bile farming unless they are brought to sanctuary.

With Bach Ma fully operational and space ready, there is no reason for the final bears to die in cages. This is the moment for decisive leadership – working alongside the Vietnamese government to ensure their historic pledge becomes a reality.

Their legacy

Nova and Lyra’s names – Nova, a new star; Lyra, a constellation – speak of light, music, and guidance. Their lives remind us what is at stake, and what is possible when we win a moon bear’s freedom, even for a short while.

Their last days were not measured in years, but in moments of safety, dignity, and care. And those moments matter.

Though Nova and Lyra have left us, their light still guides our path – a reminder of every bear still waiting for freedom, and why we will never give up.