You all know how passionate I am about helping Animals Asia bring an end to the hideous practise of bear-bile farming. But if you want to know why I became involved, then please, come along and listen to Jill Robinson, AAF’s founder, tell her extraordinary tale, starting with one bear in a cage reaching out its paw to hold her hand… Jill is a dynamo: engaging, passionate, inspiring! Talk about what you can achieve as one person when you set your goals and focus!

For almost 20 years, Jill Robinson has been involved in the challenging fight to end bear bile farming in China – a country where there are no laws to protect animals and where the majority of the bear farms are licensed by the government. However, times ARE a’changing and recently, support from the Chinese people has begun to snowball – with more and more local activists and members of the public joining AAF in its fight to protect our beloved moon bears, who endure decades of pain that you and I couldn’t even begin to imagine.

Jill will be in Australia early June, and sharing her story in Melbourne 6.30pm on Tuesday, June 5 at Kooyong Lawn Tennis Club. Easy access after work by train, tram, car (lots of parking). Only $50 for a fabulous night! Other locations & dates can be found on the link above

Come along and find out how and why your bear Jigsaw has been given a new life of hope and happiness

Jill's 2012 Tour

If you want to understand more fully about bear-bile farms, as well as have the opportunity to witness the fabulous work being done by Animals Asia Foundation when they set out to rescue and rehabilitate a farm of bears, then JOIN ME at a screening of Cages of Shame, being held in Melbourne on Friday April 20th.  The film is being presented by Jen O’Dwyer who has been a vet with AAF, and she along with her husband John (who has also worked for AAF) will be answering questions.  If you are not in Melbourne, click here for list of viewing dates in your area of Australia or New Zealand.

This film, by  Australian director Martin Guinness,  won The Humane Society of the United States’ sixth “Animal Content in Entertainment “(ACE) Documentary Film Grant.

The film is being screened at an extremely pertinent time : the Guizhentang Pharmaceutical Company Ltd, and owner of one of the biggest bear-bile farms in China, has made an application for an “initial public offering” (ie share investments) in order to finance the bear farm’s expansion from 400 bears to 1200.  This cannot be permitted.

I understand the copy of the film being shown has had some of the content toned down, but it may not be suitable for the very young.  But, be brave, come along, journey with Jill Robinson and her team as they rescue the bears, and be uplifted and inspired by what a difference can be made when you take a stand to DO something!  For more about the film please click here

Can it be a coincidence that another (undercover) film produced in China and released on the Chinese YouTube equivalent YouKu, titled “The Moon Bear”, has activated an unprecedented groundswell of support in China for the plight of captive moon bears, with over 1.3 million Chinese viewers watching the film online.  People are signing petitions and marching on the streets. Times, they are a-changing…

Well, Spring has sprung at Tam Dao and good news for all the rescued cubs is that their new cub enclosure has been opened. The enthusiastic young residents have been putting it through its paces. Hopefully the grass will respond to Springtime as the cubs have given it a serious workout in recent months with their antics! The Cub House is a first for Animals Asia, with separate dens and enclosures to accommodate the cubs as they develop, including structures and toys appropriate for small to bigger cubs. With over 20 cubs rescued in Vietnam in recent years they will graduate through each den until they are finally mature enough to move to the other bear houses and be integrated with larger bears.

Enjoy watching the following video of the  Young bears exploring their new enclosure

Meanwhile, over at AAF’s sanctuary at Chengdu, more mischief is afoot!

Some of you may remember Jasper. He was our first pin-up bear/mascot for Adoptamoonbear, before we received our own Jigsaw. Well, Jasper is a bit of a “wag” apparently and seems to enjoy spreading a bit of mischief and delight. Recently some of the bears at the Chengdu (China) sanctuary have taken to spending their winter nights outdoors – in lovely big earth nests – making it very difficult for the staff to either clean the area or replenish the food supplies. Diligent observations have identified Jasper as the culprit, happily digging nests all over the enclosures for his friends to snooze in – and they are reveling in their good fortune!!

Let sleeping bears lie…..and The Scarlet Pimpernel Himself!

Finally bears enjoyed their Valentines Day too, snuggling up to close buddies and, I’m sure if they could speak, thanking all of us for making their lives more bearable.

November opened an exciting new chapter in the campaign against bear farming: a farmer actually gave his bears to AAF with no expectation or request for remuneration, the first time this has happened.  Mr Nguyen had read about Animals Asia and seen its work on TV. With a conscience troubled by his involvement in the cruel bear bile business, he made the decision to end the misery for his 14 bears, who had been trapped on the farm for at least eight years.  Several are missing paws, most likely as a result of snare-trapping in the wild.

Sadly 40 bears still remain on the farm, owned by other bear farm partners. But hopefully the compassionate act of this man will encourage the other owners to rethink their participation in this cruel industry.

To read about this rescue and view more photos, click the photos below.

The significance of this particular rescue cannot be overstated….. When I was in Vietnam, our hotel manager in Hanoi apologised profusely to me for the treatment of bears on the bear-bile farms. People’s views _are_ changing. The good fortune of these 14 bears vindicates the tireless work carried out by organisations such as Animals Asia on behalf of animals who are not in a position to defend themselves. AAF’s charter is not just about rescuing bears, it’s about changing consciousness.

It’s fabulous news for 14 bears and our paws are crossed for the 40 that were left behind. But it does mean that there is now even more pressure on the facilities at Tam Dao where Jigsaw lives. These new arrivals will require all the same veterinary checks & medications  (just look at those terrible paws above), special diets and occupational therapy to restore their atrophied muscles. Not to mention all the other delights Jigsaw already enjoys: sunshine, grass, fresh browse, swimming – all things that bears should naturally have access to .

All the more reason to keep up OUR support for Jigsaw…

But imagine how Mr Nguyen will feel when he visits the sanctuary, hopefully with his (recent) business partners, to see how healthy and happy his bears have become. Surely that, more than anything will persuade them to release the remaining 40 bears to AAF….

Hooray for Us!!! We raised over $2500 – a stupendous effort for what amounted to 6 hours selling Trash’n'Treasure, with most items under $10. Now that’s a LOT of sales.

And in bear language, that’s 2 whole months of Bear Care Club costs taken care of in just one morning! So it’s a substantial contribution towards Jigsaw’s annual upkeep.

An early start is de rigeur – and we’re talking 4am – so that stall set-up can get underway by 5 am. Thankfully it’s just light enough to see what you’re doing (I can’t imagine doing a stall in winter). Once again I had a very committed team of helpers (including some genuine early-birders – a must!) and before long we had our new tent and banner erected, with Bernadette’s colourful bunting streaming out to the corners. Before you could rub the sleep from your eyes the dealers came, poking around with their torches, hoping to sniff out the bargains. From then on it was Game On! with hardly a breath drawn till final pack-down at 1pm! Those who could joined us back at the house for much-earned drinks & BBQ enjoying the thrill of the Money Counting Ceremony!

Highlights of the Day

Funniest Home Video of the day awarded to the chocolate labrador who lunged into the basket of toys and triumphantly dragged out a chicken!

Most Generous Purchase of the day – small collectible teacup & saucer set sold for $90 to a lady who wanted a small gift that would donate a large sum to our cause

Cutest Purchase of the day to a very determined young man who appropriated the small wooden toy cart I had set aside “out the back” of the stall for myself. He clasped the handle firmly and marched it up the footpath. His mother came running back with a fistful of dollars

Cleverest Marketing idea : handing out AAMB “business cards” with every purchase

Best Conversations of the day: with people who remembered us from last year and couldn’t wait to support us again

Thank You! Thank You! Thank You!

To all of you who donated goods

To all of you who helped me sort and sift

To all of you who came along to assist on the day

To all of you who sent wishes for a successful day

To all of you who keep showing up to support AAMB

A BIG thank you on behalf of Jigsaw and his bear buddies. Their lives are healthier and happier because YOU care to make a difference

Our Very own Jigsaw!

I can hardly believe that we have already been back for two weeks, yet still not had time to tell you about our fabulous visit to see Jigsaw at the Vietnam Bear Rescue Centre !

Meeting Jigsaw and seeing him with all his bear buddies was a dream come true!! Unless you visit an AAF sanctuary you’re unlikely to ever see such happy, contented bears in your whole life! We almost had to remind ourselves that only 2 years ago, these big, black, glossy creatures were hungry, thin, dull-furred bears, living with the pain of their abusive existence on bear-bile farms.

Suffice to say we laughed – and cried – at the sight of these lovely bears, making the most of their new lives, overseen with such care and devotion by all the staff at VBRC. Tuan, what a great team you have!! I bring home such a deep sense of gratitude that Jigsaw and his friends are being cared for so lovingly by you all.

Over the next few months I will share more about our visit: meeting and talking with the staff, the world of the bears (including the family of Sun bears), plus more about Jigsaw (of course!). I managed to get quite a bit of video footage of bears foraging, playing, chilling and just choofing around their enclosures. I’m looking forward to creating some little Youtube videos that will bring the bears’ world into your world and hopefully all the way into your hearts. I tell you, once you see them up close and personal, you want to do everything possible to rescue as many bears as you can from their horrible plight on the farms.
AAF has extensive expansion plans for the Rescue Centre as over half the bears at the Vietnam Bear Rescue Centre are still waiting for additional outside enclosures to be built. They too deserve to enjoy the sun on their backs and the grass under their feet, just like our very, very lucky Jigsaw. Everything we can do to support our boy Jigsaw means that other donated money can be directed to these much-needed new enclosures.

Camberwell Market Stall this Sunday November 6

I’ll have to blame Jigsaw for the news blackout as I have been busily organising his Market Stall for this coming Sunday November 6. The house is bulging with donated goodies as are Bill’s eyes as he surveys the back shed and spare room. Thank you to all who have emptied their cupboards!

Paws crossed for good weather and a generous crowd of shoppers! Please come along and join us, and meet some of the gang. Remember to bring your friends.