VietNamNet Bridge – A number of frightful bear maulings have occurred in recent years.But for some, they have not been enough to give up keeping the powerful beasts in their homes.

A 28-month-old boy had his left forearm chewed off by a bear on the afternoon of April 28 at the house of Bui Van Ba in the Ha Tu Ward of Ha Long City of Quang Ninh Province.

The boy, Ba’s grandson, has become the latest victim of bears kept in captivity at residents’ houses.

Bui Van Vuong, the boy, was playing near the bear cage that day. As soon as he stretched out his hand into the cage, the bear clawed the hand and bit it off. Hearing the boy’s loud wails, adults rushed to help him. But it was too late. The forearm was bitten off.

The boy was then brought to the Quang Ninh General Hospital in serious condition from the severe blood loss. Fortunately, his life was saved, thanks to the efforts of the physicians. However, they said the bitten forearm could not be reattached.

Many similar cases have occurred in the past, especially in Phu Tho Province, home to a number of bear farms.

The owner of a farm there said scientists have repeatedly warned that a bear is a wild animal, and therefore may attack humans at any time. 

“Though bears are kept in captivity, they are always very aggressive,” he said. “Many people in our province have been bitten or scratched by them”.

“Living in small cages, most bears have hot tempers. We usually have to bathe the bears, especially on hot days, or they would become terribly violent,” he continued. “When we feed them, we stand far from them and push the food into the cages with rods”.

According to the Quang Ninh provincial Forest Rangers’ Unit, Ba has been breeding his bear without a license. The farm has been found as not compliant with the requirements set by state management agencies, because it is located near residential quarters.

In the past, Ba bred six Tibetan bears. However, four have been relocated, while two remain in his house. All of the bears belong to Group No 1B, that is, the group of rare and precious animal species.

In September 2013, a five year old boy in Phu Tho Province lost two hands to a Tibetan bear raised by his uncle.

The owner of the bear, Tang Duc, began raising the bear in 2003. Duc said he kept the bear just for fun, not for bear gall. He affirmed that the 200 kilo bear only ate squash, corn, rice and some fruits and that it had a “good nature” and good health.

Duc was found to have been keeping the bear without a license in November 2011, and assessed a fine of VND10 million. He was also asked to give the bear to the appropriate agency for later release. But he refused.

However, the bear could not live out its natural life: Duc killed it after the accident with his nephew.

CAND