Former Yes keyboardist Rick Wakeman performed a piano concert for 150 rescued moon bears at an Animals Asia sanctuary in Tam Dao National Park, Vietnam.
Rick Wakeman’s Piano Performance for Rescued Moon Bears
Wakeman performed on a Yamaha grand piano positioned in the open air at the Tam Dao National Park sanctuary, playing compositions written specifically for the rescued animals. Animals Asia founder and CEO Dr. Jill Robinson praised the collaboration, stating that Wakeman’s love for the animals is immeasurable and reflected in his music. Wakeman has sponsored rescue bears since 2016 and recently adopted a 20-month-old male bear during his visit to the facility.
The Crisis of Bear Bile Farming in Vietnam
The concert highlights the ongoing exploitation of Asiatic black bears, also known as moon bears, for traditional Chinese medicine. Bile is extracted from live bears via needles inserted into their gallbladders. While Vietnam has officially banned the practice, captive bears remain trapped in cramped enclosures on illicit farms. Vietnam represents the fourth-biggest market in East Asia’s illegal wildlife trade, contributing to a nearly 30% decline in the global Asiatic black bear population over a 30-year span.
Rehabilitation and Future Rescue Efforts
The Tam Dao sanctuary currently houses 150 rehabilitated bears that now have access to open grass, climbing structures, and enrichment activities like bubble baths. However, Animals Asia estimates that 125 bears remain confined in outdated private bile farms. Wakeman urged immediate government action to secure the release of the remaining caged animals before more perish under abusive conditions.
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