16 Starving Bear Cubs Rescued from a House in Laos

Sixteen starving Asiatic black bear cubs were rescued from a home in Laos’ capital Vientiane by a wildlife conservation organization.

The clutch of cubs, also known as moon bears after the white crescent of fur across their chests, are classified as vulnerable on the IUCN Red List of endangered species.

Wildlife conservation charity ‘Free the Bears’ said they found 17 cubs in a private home in Laos a week back. But by that time one of the bear cubs had already died.

The group found ten male and six female bear cubs, weighing between 1.3 to four kilograms. They are around two to four months old.

It is suspected that the mothers of these bear cubs were killed by poachers.

One Laotian person has been taken into custody, the group said, while police continue to search for the owner of the property.