China Bear Rescue, Animals Asia Foundation (AAF)
In farms across China, there are officially 6,764 Asiatic Black Bears, imprisoned for up to 22 years in tiny metal cages no bigger than their own bodies. Known as Moon Bears because of the beautiful golden crescents on their chests, these bears are milked daily for their bile through rusting metal catheters implanted deep into their gallbladders. The bears live a life of torture before dying agonizingly slowly as a result of chronic infection.

Bear bile has been used in Traditional Oriental Medicine for 3,000 years, but the practice of bear farming was only introduced in the 1980's, in a misguided attempt to protect wild populations.

Under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) Moon Bears are listed as Appendix 1 - the most critical category. It is estimated that fewer than 15,000 are left in the wild in China. Although it is illegal to kill Moon Bears in China or export bear bile and bile products, Moon Bears are still hunted for their whole gallbladders or trapped as an illegal source of new stock for the farms.

Today Chinese doctors agree that bear bile can be easily replaced with herbal and synthetic alternatives, which are both cheap and effective. Bile costs US$293 per kilo and the herbs just US$14. However, because the market in China has an over-supply of bile, traders desperate to use their stockpile are now flooding it with bile infused products such as shampoo, soda and wine!

AAF is working with Traditional medical practitioners across the globe to source and promote cruelty free alternatives to bear bile and have extensive political, medical, ethical, conservation and welfare grounds as to why bear farming must end.

AAF's cooperation with the Chinese Government continues to advance: Since signing an historic agreement with the government departments of Beijing and Sichuan in July 2000, to rescue 500 bears¡ªAnimals Asia's China Bear Rescue is well underway. Thirty¡ªone bear farms have closed and nearly 80 bears confiscated into the care of the team. AAF is now preparing to move its first bears into the first leg of their new sanctuary, whilst working with the China Wildlife Conservation Association and the Sichuan Forestry Department in preparation for the release of the next group of bears from farms and their arrival at the Animals Asia Chengdu Rescue Center.

How You Can Help
¡ïFunds are urgently required for sanctuary construction, veterinary costs and the ongoing care of the bears. Your support will directly contribute towards AAF's work in ending the practice of bear farming and rehabilitating all farmed bears from their unimaginable suffering. Any amount Counts!

¡ïWrite a letter to the Chinese Government c/o Animals Asia, in support of the rescue and encouraging the total elimination of bear farming by the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

¡ïMany, many people have never heard of bear farming and AAF need as much support as possible around the world. Please help spread the word about the rescue. Direct family and friends to the website: www. animalsasia.org, as well as encouraging children to visit our specially designed "Kid's Site".Ó.

¡ïContact AAF in Hong Kong and request copies of China Bear Rescue leaflets for distribution in your area. Or email them at info@animalsasia.org

Meet Jill Robinson, MBE, CEO and Founder of AAF. Born in England, Jill can't ever remember a time when she didn't love animals. Fulfilling a yearn to help and be with them during her teens, she worked as a part time veterinary assistant at the local surgery and a pooper scooper at a nearby cattery, whilst fundraising for international animal welfare groups.

Her career at Thames Television was somewhat interrupted in 1985 when husband John suggested they move to Hong Kong. Although not having a clue what she'd do once there, she agreed straight away; believing that the opportunity had presented itself for a reason.

Once here, that reason quickly materialised and she found herself sick to the stomach with how animals were suffering in Asia.

Whilst working for local veterinary surgeons, she met the Asia representative of IFAW, David Dawson, and began working with him across the region documenting cruelty, whilst learning from him that many factors, outside of deliberate cruelty, were contributing to the problems, which the animals faced. Once David left Hong Kong, she continued working with IFAW for the next 11 years on programmes across Asia, before founding Animals Asia in August 1998.

In 1991, she founded "Dr. Dog", the first animal therapy programme in Hong Kong and subsequently in China, Taiwan, the Philippines, Japan and India and is currently a member of the Hong Kong Government Animal Welfare Advisory Group (AWAG).

In 1995 Jill was presented with the Readers Digest "Hero for Today" award and, in June 1998, she was awarded an MBE in the Queen's Birthday Honours List in recognition of her services to animal welfare in Asia.

In 1993 a chance visit to a bear farm in southern China changed her life and, on learning how herbs could replace bear bile, she embarked on a promise to end the practice once and for all. In 1995 she secured the release of the same bears she had seen in 1993.These bears underwent surgery and recuperation, thus giving the Animals Asia team vital experience in the successful rehabilitation of farmed bears.

Jill's dedication and skill in handling culturally sensitive matters led to the signing of a landmark agreement in July 2000 with the China Wildlife Conservation Association and the Sichuan Forestry Department. The agreement pledges to free 500 suffering Moon Bears in Sichuan and to work towards the total elimination of bear farming. Sanctioned by the Central Government Department in Beijing, this historic agreement was the first accord between the Chinese Government and any outside animal welfare organization. For the first time there is real hope¡ªnot only for these bears, but also for those remaining on 247 bile farms across China.

The farms are closed down by the Government and the bears are delivered to the AAF Chengdu Rescue Center in the most shocking condition¡ªbone thin, desperately ill and terrified, they are all in urgent need of veterinary attention, extensive surgery and tender loving care.

The tragic extent of bear farming is reflected in each bear's appalling physical condition...from Andrew, Freedom, Belton and Frodo who are missing limbs as a result of being trapped in the wild, to Crystal and Gail whose teeth were cut back and paw tips brutally sliced off to permanently declaw them¡ªmaking them easier to "milk"Ó. Injuries from the cage bars run the entire length of their pain¡ªwracked bodies and head wounds indicate the mental trauma they have endured over the years as they repeatedly bang their heads against the bar in a frantic attempt to stimulate their intelligent minds.

On arrival, each bear undergoes an emergency health check by the Animals Asia veterinary team. Veterinary Director Dr. Gail Cochrane, assesses their condition and prioritises each bear for surgery. Safe in the hospital for the first time in their lives, the bears are fed tasty, nourishing food prepared with life saving medicines and antibiotics.

Operations lasting up to 8 hours are performed to remove rusting implants and repair infected damaged bodies, which have seen only a lifetime of pain. Following surgery, the bears are kept under close veterinary observation in specially designed recovery cages. Despite the best efforts of AAF veterinary team, 10% of the rescued bears do not survive.

As part of the July 2000 Agreement, Animals Asia has agreed to pay a level of compensation to the farmers to ensure that none of the bears are slaughtered for their parts and to help them move into alternative areas of employment. The Sichuan Government is passing all original bear farm licenses to Animals Asia and a country wide policy in China ensures that no new bear farm licenses are being issued. Animals Asia China Bear Rescue is advancing the concept of animal welfare within China on a grand scale! In early-March 2003, Tianjin International School (TIST) has invited AAF and Jill Robinson to come to the school and share with the children the history and current and future state of China's Moon Bear. Jill will explain to the children how they too can help a bear, such as buying a bear a pot of honey, or feeding a bear for a week, and even possibly adopting and naming a bear!

On March 7, 2003, in Beijing, AAF and Jill will be hosting a fundraising dinner for the China Moon Bear. There will also be raffle tickets available for the many Lucky Draw prizes. For more information about this event, please contact Ginger Duval; 2379-0643; 136 0218 1152; or mgduval@public.tpt.tj.cn. This is your chance to really make a difference and get to hear more and learn more, firsthand about Jill and her awesome accomplishments and challenges that lay ahead for AAF. By coming to the dinner, you are already making a financial contribution to the Moon Bears in China. Small people are welcome too! So bring the whole family! For more information about AAF and their locations throughout the world, please visit their website: http://www.animalsasia.org; eMail: info@animalsasia.org

With YOUR support, AAF can continue to free suffering bears and work towards their goal of ending bear farming by the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games!