+34
The 77-year-old musician played two compositions for rescued bears at an Animals Asia sanctuary near Hanoi. The charity said 11 bears moved closer as he performed.
On Thursday, September 24, 2026, musician Rick Wakeman performed for more than 150 rescued bears at an Animals Asia sanctuary in Vietnam. The 77-year-old Yes keyboardist played two new pieces he wrote for rescued moon bears Dawn and Moon.
Animals Asia provided the event information to CNN, which distributed it through CNN Newsource. Wakeman flew to Vietnam earlier in the week and played a grand piano inside an enclosure at the sanctuary, about 35 miles (56 kilometres) north of Hanoi. The charity said 11 bears gathered closer as he performed. Wakeman said he watched the animals throughout the concert and nearly forgot what he was playing.
Wakeman Composes Music For Rescued Bears
In a statement, Wakeman said he felt immensely honoured to play in the beautiful setting for the bears. He has been a guardian to Moon since 2016. The two compositions were titled Dawn Reborn and Moon, and were written about the rescued bears. Wakeman described the performance as the most extraordinary concert of his life.
He said it felt as if he were in a bubble with only himself and the bears, calling them a remarkably well-behaved audience. He said they were brilliant. Two bears came right up to the edge of the enclosure, Wakeman said, and he deliberately varied the music because he noticed they reacted more to some parts than others. He said people already know music affects humans, and the experience showed him that it affects bears too.
In a Facebook post about the visit, Wakeman said the event was intended to celebrate bears that had been rescued, rehabilitated, cared for and saved at the sanctuary. He added that it was also a reminder that many bears remain in captivity and still need to be rescued. The sanctuary is in the valley of Tam Dao National Park and covers 11 hectares.
Animals Asia Rescues Bears From Bile Industry
Animals Asia says it is home to around 200 sun bears and moon bears rescued from the bile industry. The organization also operates another sanctuary in Vietnam and one in Chengdu, China. Bear bile is a gold-coloured liquid secreted by the liver and used in traditional medicines. Keeping bears in captivity to extract bile has been illegal in Vietnam since 2005, but the practice continues, according to the article.
Animals Asia has campaigned against what it calls a cruel and unsustainable industry. The charity says continued demand for bile, gaps in enforcement and a deeply held belief that it is the most effective medicine for certain health issues help drive the practice. Its campaign seeks to end the captivity and extraction of bile from bears. Animals Asia founder Jill Robinson called the concert magical.
Dawn Bear Recovery Highlights Music Therapy
She said it was a privilege to see bears who had experienced pain and suffering have music played for them in a special setting. Robinson described the event as a celebration of hope and gratitude to the bears, as well as a heartfelt promise to help those still left behind. Robinson said it was especially fitting that one of the pieces was dedicated to Dawn because music had been a valuable part of her recovery.
She described Dawn as one of the most broken bears the organization had ever seen. With a carefully designed care programme that included calm, low-level music, Robinson said, Dawn had become a beautiful, carefree bear able to enjoy the safety and peace of the sanctuary. The performance celebrated the rescued bears while drawing attention to those still held in captivity.
Please follow us on Google to support us
CP24
CTVNews:This story was compiled and edited by the HeadTopics newsroom and HT AI from the reports above.
Rick Wakeman Rescued Bears Animals Asia Vietnam Bear Bile Trade Bear Sanctuary
Canada Latest News, Canada Headlines
Similar News: You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Ford recalls 57,077 F-150 trucks in Canada over fuel tank strap defectFord is recalling 57,077 F-150 trucks in Canada and 223,472 in the U.S. because a fuel tank strap may not be secured properly, allowing the tank to separate and fuel to leak.
Read more »
Only 150 first-time homebuyer GST rebates approved as of JuneThe government has been slow to deliver on its promised tax relief for Canadians buying their first home, according to federal data.
Read more »
Ford F-150 production halted nearly a week at Michigan plant over supply problemFord has stopped F-150 production at its Dearborn Truck Plant for nearly a week due to a supply issue, with some shifts also canceled at its Kansas City plant while Kentucky Truck Plant increased output.
Read more »