Meet the Bears: Celeste – A New Beginning
All proceeds after manufacturing costs go directly to the Animals Asia Foundation.
Bring Celeste’s story of hope and resilience into your life with this special “Meet the Bears” item, created to honor one of Animals Asia’s most inspiring rescues.
For 20 years, Celeste lived in unimaginable conditions on a bear bile farm in Phung Thuong, Hanoi. Taken from the wild as a cub after likely witnessing her mother’s death, she spent two decades in a barren cage, subjected to repeated bile extractions and a life without comfort, play, or companionship.
In 2024, everything changed. Rescued by Animals Asia, Celeste was transported to the newly opened Bach Ma Sanctuary in Vietnam, where her journey toward healing and freedom began.
Celeste’s Story of Transformation
From the moment she arrived, Celeste showed the scars of her past but also the resilience of a survivor. With the patient care of her dedicated caregiver, Ellie, Celeste began to trust again. She discovered joy in simple pleasures:
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Favorite foods: syrup, sugar cane, and dried mango.
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Favorite pastime: splashing playfully in her pool.
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New experiences: walking on grass, basking in the sun, and learning to play with other bears.
Her health check revealed both her strength—thick fur, soft paws, healthy teeth—and the toll of her past, including a gall bladder infection from bile extractions. But with expert veterinary care and a loving environment, Celeste has been able to heal.
Today, Celeste is thriving alongside her companions Kenny and Romeo, bears who were once her neighbors in suffering and are now her partners in play. Together, they splash, wrestle, forage, and rest, proof of the life-changing impact of rescue and sanctuary.
Why This Item Matters
By purchasing this “Meet the Bears: Celeste” item, you’re not just taking home a story of survival—you’re directly supporting Animals Asia’s mission to end bear bile farming and protect vulnerable animals across Asia.
Your support helps provide:
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Species-appropriate sanctuaries filled with enrichment and care.
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Essential veterinary treatment for rescued bears.
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Ongoing campaigns to replace cruelty with compassion in Vietnam, China, and beyond.
A Future of Compassion
Celeste’s transformation reminds us what’s possible when empathy meets action. With your help, Animals Asia continues to replace cages with freedom, fear with trust, and cruelty with kindness.
Every purchase powers this mission—together we can create a kinder world, one life at a time.
Meet the perfect gift for any holiday, birthday, or special occasion, the teddy bear with its own t-shirt. Available in an adorable size of 7″ by 10″, the teddy bear comes with a cute bow, super soft synthetic fur, and 100% polyester fiber filling for maximum huggability. All your designs, names, and photos go on the t-shirt in pristine detail and vivid colors.
.: Material: 100% polyester
.: One size: 7″ x 10″ (17.8 x 25.4 cm)
.: Comes with a black bow tie
.: Sewn in label
.: Handwash only (the shirt)
