An attempt to save an emaciated, light-starved “sun bear” discovered at a temple in Thailand ended in disappointment yesterday as the animal proved too far gone.
“Kwan” the Malayan sun bear died after the group discovered her starving and kept in a dark room Saturday during what the Wildlife Friends Foundation Thailand described as a routine check on wildlife kept at a temple.
“The bear had been in the room for so long, without any sunlight, that it got weak, skinny and lost almost all hair,” the group said on Facebook.
Reached for comment, Wildlife Friends identified the temple as Wat Nong Hoi in Prachuap Khiri Khan province.
She died yesterday afternoon. This is what a Malayan sun bear would look like if it wasn’t starved in a room without light:
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Here are more images of how Kwan looked during the 24-hours or so between her discovery and death:
Photos: Wildlife Friends Foundation Thailand
UPDATE: Story has been updated to reflect the identity of the temple.
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