World Animal Protection (WAP) Ambassador, Thai singer and actor Tono Pakin Kumwilaisuk (second row, third from left) pose for a photo at a bear protection exhibition in Hanoi on June 30. (Photo: ENV)Hanoi (VNA) – Abear protection exhibition was kicked off in Hanoi on June 30, in the presenceof the World Animal Protection (WAP) Ambassador - Thai singer and actorTono Pakin Kumwilaisuk, to raise public awareness of the importance of bearprotection.
The event was held by the Education for Nature Vietnam (ENV)and the WAP, featuring a number of activities, including displays of photos andinformation of bears in Vietnam, signing of commitments to protect bears, and aspace for kids to colour pictures about bears and other wildlife animals.
According to ENV deputydirector Nguyen Thi Phuong Dung, the WAP Ambassador will accompany bearprotection and awareness-raising activities organised by the WAP and ENV to endbear farming in Vietnam.
The Thai singer visitedsome bear farms in Phuc Tho district on the outskirts of Hanoi and held a talkwith Forest Protection Department of Hai Phong city on the same efforts, shesaid.
Speaking at the event,Tono said it is pitiable for bears, a wild animal, to live in captivity. Vetnamhas a large number of bears kept in farms; some of these farms are clean butsome are dirty and not quite airy and spacious, he added.
Heurged stronger joint efforts to end this situation and stricter penalties forviolations of bear protection rules.
The number of bears in captivity in Vietnam has decreaseddramatically from more than 4,300 in 2005 to 851 as of April 2018. To date, 22localities have eliminated bear captivity.
Since the beginning of 2018, the last captive bears in CanTho and Ninh Binh have been voluntarily transferred to animal rescue centresfor better care, Dung noted.
Togetherwith many actions taken by localities nationwide, it is a positive sign for theending of bear farming in Vietnam in a near future, she added.
Tono Pakin Kumwilaisuk,who is best known for being among the eight finalists that competed in TheStar, season 6, a singing contest broadcast live on Thai television. The 1986born star has also been honoured with a range of awards, such as the 26th TVGold Awards as Best Leading Actor (2012) and the OK Awards (2015).
Tono became a WAP Ambassador in 2013 and has been involved invarious activities and projects run by the international organisation toimprove animal welfare in Thailand since then. He is very active on socialmedia with more than 2.2 million followers, which allows him to disseminatemessages on animal protection.-VNA
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