Tuan Bendixsen, PhD
Vietnam Director
Tuan heads up Animals Asia’s operations in Vietnam, which include our Moon Bear Rescue Centre in Tam Dao National Park and the campaign to end bear bile farming. He also works with the national government and local authorities to increase awareness and enforcement of the laws to protect bears in Vietnam, and to negotiate the rescue and transfer of bears into our care.
Before joining Animals Asia in 2005, Tuan managed a veterinary clinic/laboratory in Hanoi in partnership with a French and Vietnamese vet and worked with the moon bear project on a voluntary basis.
Originally from Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City), Tuan emigrated with his family to Australia in 1973. After obtaining a PhD in Agricultural Science, he worked with the Division of Livestock Industries, CSIRO, to improve the welfare of farm animals through disease and husbandry management. Moving back to Vietnam in 2000, Tuan joined the United Nation Volunteers helping the Ministry of Foreign Affairs set up a project to encourage professional overseas Vietnamese to return to help with the development of the country.
Confident in the power of Animals Asia’s work Tuan says, “I feel our bear rescue and companion animal welfare projects such as Dr. Dog and Professor Paws will ultimately lead to a change in people’s attitude and perception towards animals, and hopefully, not too far into the future, the Government of Vietnam will introduce animal welfare legislation.”