The Tiger Sanctuary Vietnam
Ending tiger farming starts with somewhere safe for rescued tigers to go.The Tiger Sanctuary Vietnam is being established to create a sanctuary built on the highest standards of animal welfare and care for tigers rescued from Vietnam's tiger farms. Working alongside government, conservation organisations and technical experts, we are creating the sanctuary capacity needed to make ending tiger farming in Vietnam possible.We are currently undertaking the feasibility and development phase.
Why this matters
"When a tiger is rescued, where does it go?"That question sits at the heart of tiger conservation in Vietnam.Authorities continue to investigate wildlife crime and remove tigers from illegal and unsuitable facilities. But confiscating a tiger is only the beginning. Every rescued tiger needs expert veterinary care, secure transport and a permanent home that can meet its physical and behavioural needs for the rest of its life.Without appropriate sanctuary space, opportunities to rescue tigers can be delayed or lost.The Tiger Sanctuary Vietnam exists to help provide that missing piece.
Life on a tiger farm
Tigers do not belong in farms.Many tigers in Vietnam's tiger farms are bred and kept to supply the illegal trade in tiger products, including tiger bone glue, a paste made by boiling tiger bones that is consumed for perceived medicinal benefits.Most farmed tigers spend their entire lives in small concrete enclosures with little opportunity to explore, climb, swim or express the natural behaviours that define them as wild animals.Some are bred repeatedly. Others are kept in barren conditions that provide little mental stimulation or choice.The physical and psychological consequences can be profound, including chronic stress, abnormal repetitive behaviours and poor welfare.Without dedicated sanctuary capacity, many of these tigers cannot be rescued in the first place because authorities need somewhere safe and appropriate to place them. Building sanctuary capacity is therefore not only about providing lifelong care for rescued tigers—it is a critical part of making future rescues possible.
A sanctuary changes everything
A sanctuary does much more than provide a home for rescued big cats.It provides the dedicated long-term sanctuary capacity needed to support Vietnam's efforts to end tiger farming.It gives authorities a specialist destination for rescued tigers, strengthening enforcement against the illegal wildlife trade.It provides lifelong veterinary care, species-specific husbandry and high welfare for tigers that cannot be returned to the wild.It complements the important work of government rescue centres by expanding the country's capacity to care for rescued tigers.And it helps make the closure of tiger farms possible by ensuring rescued tigers have a permanent place to go.A dedicated tiger sanctuary is one of the missing pieces needed to help bring an end to tiger farming in Vietnam.
Why now?
Vietnam has an opportunity to act before the challenge becomes even greater.Right now, 286 tigers are being held across 17 privately owned tiger farms and zoos in Vietnam.The country has already demonstrated that meaningful change is possible through collaboration between government, conservation organisations and animal welfare groups.To bring tiger farming to an end, authorities need somewhere to place rescued tigers. Without dedicated sanctuary capacity, there will continue to be practical limits on how many tigers can be removed from illegal facilities and how quickly those facilities can be closed.Building that capacity is not simply about caring for rescued tigers. It is about providing the infrastructure needed to support enforcement and make the end of tiger farming possible.
Our plan
The Tiger Sanctuary Vietnam aims to become a genuine sanctuary, where the welfare and individual needs of every animal come first.Our long-term vision includes:• spacious, naturalistic habitats designed around the behavioural and welfare needs of each tiger• specialist veterinary facilities providing evidence-led care• lifelong sanctuary for confiscated tigers that cannot be returned to the wild• specialist care and rehabilitation for other carnivores affected by the illegal wildlife trade• close collaboration with Vietnamese authorities and conservation partners• sanctuary capacity that enables wildlife law enforcement and makes rescue possible• opportunities to strengthen sanctuary, animal welfare and wildlife veterinary expertise in VietnamEvery decision we make will be guided by compassion, evidence and the individual needs of the animals in our care. We will work openly and collaboratively, share what we learn, and build with the future in mind.
A new future for Vietnam's tigers
Our mission is to work alongside government and partners to end tiger farming in Vietnam by creating the sanctuary capacity needed to rescue tigers and advancing lasting improvements in wildlife welfare and conservation.We are currently working with government agencies, technical experts and partner organisations to assess sites, develop the sanctuary model and build the partnerships needed for long-term success.Our goal is to create a lasting solution that helps improve the welfare of rescued tigers while supporting Vietnam's long-term efforts to end tiger farming.
Who we are
The Tiger Sanctuary Vietnam is being developed by an international team of people with extensive experience in wildlife rescue, sanctuary management, veterinary care and conservation in Vietnam and internationally.The project builds on decades of practical experience working with government agencies, animal welfare organisations and international sanctuary standards to create a lasting solution for rescued tigers.Behind this project is an exceptional group of people. We look forward to introducing our leadership team, trustees and members of our technical advisory team soon.
Contact us
We welcome conversations with conservation organisations, technical experts, supporters and others who share our vision for a future beyond tiger farming.