Our US Director, Alice Ng, who was at the sanctuary recently for our latest bear rescue, will be giving the Boston and Florida presentations on my behalf. So while I’m terribly disappointed that I won’t be able to be there in person, at least I know Alice will be there and will do a great job.
The death toll from the earthquake is now well over 20,000 and the situation on site is much worse than first thought. Although people and bears are safe, thank God, most of our staff accommodation buildings are unsafe and out of bounds.
Many of our team are now sleeping on concrete floors in hastily erected emergency shelters and the holding areas for new bears (the “poly-tunnels”). We are desperately trying to source construction experts to help us assess the damage, but with thousands of people similarly affected in the Chengdu area, we have no idea when this work will be able to start.
Fortunately, the dens were built to be bear-proof, so we don’t think they have sustained any structural damage.
As well as dealing with our own problems at the sanctuary, we will, over the next couple of days see how our vet team can be of assistance in the wider community. Given the increasingly grim news that is coming in, including that whole towns have been razed to the ground, there must be many, many animals in need of help.
So Christie, our China Relations Director has been contacting local animal welfare groups and dog and cat rescue facilities to ascertain the situation and what, if any, help is needed at the present time.
Also, as soon as I arrive in Chengdu, Christie, senior vet Heather, rescue centre General Manager Toby and I will be heading to the epicentre of the quake to see how we can help animals on the ground.
With apologies again for having to cancel my first few US presentations – and a huge thanks to Alice for taking on the job at such short notice.
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It's 1pm China time and we've just heard from a friend in Chendgdu that local Chinese news reports say another another earthquake is expected this afternoon. No more details yet.
Senior vet Heather says everyone at the sanctuary is very worried about accommodation in C1 building and the old hospital, so some of the staff are going to sleep in poly-tunnels and in downstairs bear rooms, etc at the old hospital.
"Asia", Eric our translator's dog went missing yesterday, but she's been found and is safe, thank goodness.
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Thanks so much for all your messages of concern and support. The death toll is now over 10,000 and still climbing and the city is still in the grip of aftershocks.
It's just heartbreaking. Our thoughts and prayers are with the people of Chengdu.
Our PR and Education Manager Rainbow Zhu who is at the sanctuary in Chengdu sent through these photos late last night.
Rainbow took this photo just after the major quake. Staff had been gathered in this room having a communications meeting, when the building shook.
Telephone lines were cut intermittently after the quake. Worried staff gathered outside to try to call relatives and friend, but none could get through.
Tiles were torn from the roof of the staff dorm. Tiles also feel from the roof of the new hospital.
Staff gathered in the car park five minutes after the major earthquake... Rainbow wrote: "Aftershocks now again and again. We put a cup of water in the middle of our living room. Ripples often with the noise of the shaking of the door sometimes. Praying all the time."
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The news is getting worse I'm afraid. At 9.30pm China time, the official death toll from the quake was up to 5,000 and we fear it will rise further throughout the night.
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The latest news at 9pm China time has the State News Agency advising that anything up to 3,500 people have now lost their lives in the earthquake in Chengdu.
Also, six schools have collapsed and over 900 students are apparently buried in the rubble of the quake, which measured 7.8 on the Richter scale.
Premier Wen is calling it a disaster and asking for calm.
Our hearts go out to the families of those who lost their lives.
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