From farm to freedom: the first 100 days at sanctuary

Every bear deserves the softest possible landing.

When a bear arrives at one of our sanctuaries, they’re not just recovering from injury or illness — they’re waking up from a lifetime of fear, pain and deprivation. These first days are delicate. Critical. It’s where lifelong care begins.

Quarantine

When a rescued bear arrives at our sanctuary, the first step on their road to recovery is quarantine. It might not look like freedom just yet – but it’s where everything begins.

After years trapped in tiny, filthy cages, these bears need time to adjust, to heal, and to grow strong.

In quarantine rescued bears receive urgent veterinary care, nutritious food and daily enrichment. Just as importantly, they begin to build a bond with the carers who will be by their side for life.

Why quarantine is essential

Every rescued bear is unique, and quarantine helps us support them safely, patiently, and personally. It also ensures the wellbeing of the wider sanctuary community.

In this calm, carefully managed environment, we:

• Treat urgent medical conditions – Most bears arrive with infections, injuries, or life-threatening illnesses. Quarantine allows us to assess and medicate safely
• Protect the whole sanctuary – We isolate new arrivals in case of transmissible diseases, ensuring the health of our resident bears
• Provide psychological support – A familiar-sized space helps reduce fear and anxiety, offering a safe environment to begin recovery
• Encourage movement – Enrichment is designed to help bears stretch, reach and move – gently using muscles they haven’t used in years
• Observe and understand – Our behavioural team studies the bear’s reactions to food, noise, people and enrichment to create a tailored care plan.

A cage… with care and compassion

After a lifetime in confinement, open spaces can be frightening. A quarantine cage offers a source of familiarity while we introduce positive new experiences such as toys, new foods and cooling showers.

Preparing for a new life

With each day, we see small signs of progress. A curious sniff. A stretch. A look of recognition when their name is gently called. These are milestones. When they’re ready, the bear voluntarily steps into a transfer cage to go to hospital and receives their first full health check.

First health check

Once a bear has settled into quarantine, our veterinary team carries out an in-depth health check under anaesthesia. It’s a vital part of recovery – the first time in years these bears receive professional, compassionate medical care.

These examinations allow us to detect and treat the most urgent physical damage caused by years of neglect, poor diet and crude bile extraction.

What the health check includes:

• Internal scans – Ultrasounds, x-rays, and echocardiograms to assess organ damage, joint condition and heart health
• Dental examination – Many bears arrive with painful fractures or infected gums from bar biting and poor nutrition
• Gallbladder and liver assessment – Chronic infections, gallstones and abscesses often require surgical removal of the gallbladder
• Mobility and musculoskeletal checks – Years in small cages lead to severe muscle wasting and arthritis
• Claw and paw care – Overgrown, ingrown claws are trimmed to relieve pain and help mobility

Where necessary, our team performs emergency surgery or begins long-term treatments straight away. And each bear receives a care plan designed to support their recovery from that moment forward.

Their first den

When a bear is comfortable, confident, and showing signs they’re ready to take the next step, they move from quarantine to their very own den.

For many, it’s the first time they’ve ever experienced a space this large. It’s also the first time their paws will touch solid ground – a smooth cement floor scattered with natural materials from the world outside.

Here, they’re introduced to the textures and smells of sanctuary life: fresh soil, bark, grass, and leaves. It’s a gentle, sensory introduction to the semi-natural enclosures they’ll soon explore.

Why the den stage matters

• Space to adjust and explore – These larger dens offer safe space to move, stretch, and continue building strength
• Natural textures – Bears encounter real-world smells and sensations like grass, soil and bark, awakening instincts dulled by deprivation
• Continued Cooperative Care – Carers continue training and bonding, helping the bear build trust and confidence through positive reinforcement
• Social preparation – Through sliding doors and protected contact, bears begin to see and smell one another, laying the groundwork for future friendships.

Gentle integration with other bears

Once a bear is relaxed and responding to or expressing curiosity towards other bears, our behavioural team starts the delicate process of integration.

Introductions are carefully planned, happen gradually and are monitored very closely. Some bears prefer solitude; others go on to form lifelong bonds. Whatever their path, the choice is always theirs.

First steps to freedom

Stepping into a sanctuary enclosure is a milestone in every rescued bear’s journey. It’s a moment filled with emotion and for some bears, it’s the first time they’ve ever stood on soil, felt the sun on their fur, or seen the sky beyond cage bars.

Some run, others hesitate. Each step is epic. It marks the moment a bear realises they are safe, free, and home. It’s a powerful, emotional moment for carers, too – and a deeply symbolic one for everyone who helped make it possible.

Whether they charge out with curiosity or pause to take it all in, this moment represents everything Animals Asia stands for: transformation, healing, and the start of a life filled with choice, comfort, and dignity.