Lao authorities rescued 16 black bear cubs in a building here and handed them over to a bear conservation organization, local media reported Saturday.

The bears were found in the building of the microfinance institution in Sikhottabong district last week and the rescue operation was initiated by the authorities, the Lao Economic Daily reported, citing Chansamouth Chanthalangsone, deputy head of the environmental department under the Lao Ministry of Public Security.

The cubs are now in the care of Free the Bear, an Australian non-profit wildlife charity, where they will receive the necessary treatment before being released back into their natural habitat.