Baby 'Moon Bears' Rescued In China (VIDEO)

BEIJING (AP) -- A farmer in south China found twin black bear cubs alone in a forest while he was out picking tea leaves, state media said. He was planning to raise them until they were big enough to fend for themselves, but an animal welfare group has intervened.

China Central Television reported that the tea farmer, Tian Shougui, heard the animals crying in the forest two weeks ago and brought them home to his house in Sichuan province's Longhua township without realizing they were bears.

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"I heard their crying high up a hill, which made me very curious," Tian told CCTV in the report aired Saturday. "I didn't know what animals they were but still decided to bring them back to my home, just to save their lives."

The twins, a boy weighing just 7.05 pounds (3.2 kilograms) and a girl weighing 6.83 pounds (3.1 kilograms), were confirmed by local animal welfare experts to be Asiatic black bears, the report said.

Asiatic black bears are also known as moon bears because of a crescent shaped marking on their chests. They are protected under Chinese law but are sometimes poached for their bile, which is used in Chinese traditional medicine.

CCTV did not say what happened to the cubs' mother. Based on their weight, they are likely about three months old, according to data from the Wildlife Information Network.

Tian fed them milk, rice powder and egg yolks, the report said. He wanted to keep them until they grew to about 15 kilograms (33 pounds), but a local animal welfare organization is planning to take over their care and releasing them back into the wild sooner.

"When they wake up, they come to me and play with my bottom of trousers," Tian said. "After they are fed, they play for a bit longer, then go to sleep."

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Comments

[European1919]

07:32 AM on 05/11/2011

All the best to those little beasts. So glad they ran into a good human, not one that thinks bear bits will make his wiener longer.

[jetle25]

06:21 PM on 04/27/2011

I really hope they don't harvest them for Bile for Chinese Medicine. Its so barbaric considering how endangered they are.

[Ajita Kamal]

01:06 PM on 04/26/2011

The mother was probably away foraging. This is normal behavior when the cubs are little. The guy most likely took them away from their mother, and we're supposed to rejoice because they've been "rescued".

[HHUA]

12:17 PM on 04/29/2011

My thoughts exactly!

The guy was obviously ignorant to the fact that they were even bears... we're supposed to trust his "judgment" that they needed to be "rescued"?

Lame "reporting" that doesn't even consider this as the likely scenario. Well, at least he didn't "eat" the bears. If they were dog pups that might have been the case!

[TruEngineHearing]

01:01 PM on 04/26/2011

The horrific tragedy of the caged "bile bears" is almost too much to even think about. I'm glad to hear about any animal rescued from that fate - if you search for information on the topic, you will know what I mean.

[anitaj]

12:44 PM on 04/26/2011

I hope that these adorable cubs are able to enjoy a future in the wild.

[LaurieAnn]

01:04 PM on 04/26/2011

So do I.

[The Revolving Diet]

12:31 PM on 04/26/2011

Sooooo CUTE!!!

Great story and nice ending!!

[LHoney]

12:06 PM on 04/26/2011

Aren't they adorable? I thought it was so sweet that the farmer brought them home not even knowing what they were, just to save their lives... some people are wonderful.

[jrfromdallas]

11:46 AM on 04/26/2011

Da Bears!

[Rebecca]

10:48 AM on 04/26/2011

Too cute!

[Oliver R]

10:36 AM on 04/26/2011

I need, I think many of us need to read stories such as this. To know at some level that conscience, compassion, empathy for the innocents of this world still exists and might even occasionally flourish. That it happens in China is all the better given the penchant, as noted by others, of murdering (poaching is a nice euphemism) innocent life for the appeasement of what is well-known, superstitious bunk.

The world, and this day, are better - even if so marginally - by the actions of this one caring soul.

[springsm]

10:50 AM on 04/26/2011

The people of China are no different than we Americans....some are greedy and will poach, others are compassionate and really care.  Most are.  The problem with some of this poaching is that people want, demand and are greedy with the product.  I applaud this man for rescuing these bears, but wonder if the mother truly is looking for them.  I am also glad that the animal rescue group is involved.  But don't down play the compassion and empathy people have for others/humans and animals.

[Machinistscott]

10:02 AM on 04/26/2011

I don't care what Steven Colbert says, I love bears.

[BobSacomano]

09:41 AM on 04/26/2011

Why does "Chinese traditional medicine" always seem to involve an killing innocent species and driving them into extinction, and usually for the 'male virility'' potions?

[VeryGrood]

10:35 AM on 04/26/2011

Have you looked at their population growth? Something they're doing is working....

[springsm]

10:51 AM on 04/26/2011

And in counties of that country a couple is allowed only one child., because of the population.  So perhaps whatever they are doing is working all too well.

[blytzd]

06:01 PM on 04/27/2011

How is unsustainable harvesting of organs "working"?

[kareemachan]

11:16 AM on 04/26/2011

Exactly what I was thinking. :-(

[mikeyaz17]

09:13 AM on 04/26/2011

What a great way to start my day. Wonderful news!

[Terri Lorz]

09:11 AM on 04/26/2011

Cute! Terri Jo Lorz

[MadamRoma]

06:52 AM on 04/26/2011

I worry for animals in that part of the world. Strange customs and medicinal potions bring so many innocents into harms way. This man may have saved these young bears for the day, but their future was certainly in question. I personally am not buying his story that he did not know what they were, that seems very unlikely. These animals bring dollars, these people are poor, the rest of the story is fairly easily written.

[PhillyKing]

09:22 AM on 04/26/2011

or... he saw a couple abandoned cubs and decided to rescue them cause he's a caring individual... making assumptions because of where he lives and how much money he has seems a bit bigoted IMO...

[MadamRoma]

12:36 PM on 04/26/2011

Your assumptions are misplaced and your logic is flawed. This area of the world is constantly losing species because of citizens selling animals for "whatever reason". There is a big market for this very animal, whether it's for medicinal purposes or the selling of exotics. As I have said before when it comes to animals I will always proceed with caution, think what you will, that is your prerogative.

[1jdgriff]

10:45 AM on 04/26/2011

That might be, but I've heard baby bears crying, none of us knew what it was until later we saw mom and the bears. Just saying, it was crying, and none of us related to being bears.

[springsm]

10:53 AM on 04/26/2011

Yes, that worries me too.  She is or probably did spend time trying to find them.  Mom is usually close around...but it that had been the case, this man would not have walked home at all, let alone with the cubs.