His arrival picture shocked the media and audiences worldwide - but his survival and story today has melted the hearts of both staff and supporters as we celebrate the life of a bear who refused to give up.
Just recently Wilfred was relocated to join a gorgeous group of bears in House 8 - several of whom, like him, are blind, or semi-sighted - and the integrations slowly began.
All went well thankfully and today Wilfred is firm friends with Mityan and Akimo who were also moved over to House 8 to begin the next stage of their journey.
Just last week, Senior Bear Manager Nic and her team opened the den doors into the grassy enclosure so that these three brave bears could walk on grass together and enjoy the early days of spring. Over the next few weeks, they will gradually be introduced to the rest of the group in House 8 where they will live out the rest of their lives.
Here is Nic's summary of another perfect day in bearland:
A satisfying day once again. A while ago we integrated Wilfred, affectionately known to the staff as Watermelon/Xi Gua with Mityan and Akimo. The latter two have lived happily together for several years at the centre rotating access at Rupert's special garden. These two are blind and were housed in the special-care area for that reason.
However over the years, more bears with sight issues have found their home at the centre and several live already at House 8. So when Wilfred arrived in last year's rescue and we discovered he was blind, we discussed options for him.
On and off we have talked about moving Mityan and Akimo to a normal bear house so they could be managed as part of a normal group. So just after Christmas, we moved the three bears over to dens in house 8 and integrated Wilfred with Mityan and Akimo. Their friendships blossomed especially between Mityan and Wilfred.
The next step in our plan was to give these three blind bears access to their new enclosure so they could familiarise themselves with their new-found space and for Wilfred especially give him the opportunity to enjoy grass for the first time!
Today the big group spent a day inside, so that these three blind friends could enjoy their new environment and discover where everything is.
Mityan was the first to venture out and find the delicious food and treats that awaited them in the enclosures. A little later Akimo and finally Wilfred took his first tentative steps into the enclosure. For several minutes he cautiously put his front paws on the grass, but soon all four were on the grass.
Ten minutes later he was the other side of the enclosure and has spent a gloriously sunny day sniffing his way around, enjoying the joys of all the enrichment structures in the enclosure and wrestling with Mityan.
At one point he was on his back with all four legs in the air baring his belly to the Chengdu sun! There is still a way to go on this bear's journey. As the day drew to a close, and Wilfred lay contently on the grass reluctant to come into the den, who could blame him after years in a bear farm cage.
To see an inspiring slideshow of Wilfred's progress, please click here.
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A quick blog today, but one with grateful thanks to another of our unsung heroes on staff. Our Chef Li Damu and his team are always there when the new bears arrive – working in the kitchen late into the night to ensure the rescue team have nourishing hot food at the end of a long and stressful day.
During the previous rescue in March 2008 when we finally offloaded bears at midnight, there was Chef, cooking up a storm for the exhausted team.
Similarly with our latest rescue on 6th February, Chef was keeping everyone’s hunger pangs at bay during the long days of emergency health-checks.
Here is Chef Li Damu with our General Manager/Government Liaison, Toby Zhang, and female bear, “Jack” during her health-check:
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As you know, it’s been a hectic couple of months for us, starting with the heartbreaking rescue of 149 sick and skeletal dogs from an illegal meat trader on New Year’s Eve. Then we had the arrival of 13 new farmed bears at our Chengdu sanctuary, the brown bears’ move to their new enclosure – and so it goes on.
Through all the ups and downs, your messages of support have really meant a lot to us all. I wish I had the time to respond to you all individually, but chaos reigns and the work goes on.
Please accept my heartfelt thanks for all your ongoing faith and support. Big bear hugs as ever, Jill
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Here is our UK Director, Dave Neale's heart-wrenching story of how battery hens are raised and treated in the UK and why, with just a little forethought we, as individual consumers, can drastically improve their lives.
As Dave says, this is not just an issue that affects the UK. Intensive farming practices are global and creeping across Asia - but a difference can be made through compassionate shopping.
"In the past two weeks I have been involved in the rescue of battery hens from farms in the UK, rescuing over 900 hens as a volunteer with the Battery Hen Welfare Trust (BHWT). These birds are kept in tiny wire cages with four and sometimes five other hens, with no room to move or stretch their wings.
The hens have been there for 18 months to two years without even seeing the light of day. Stuck inside cages that have not been cleaned since the day the birds entered them. Even after many years of being involved in welfare, these conditions continue to shock me. This photo is courtesy of CIWF (Compassion in World Farming):
I am pleased to say that for these 900 hens, happy homes await them (the BHWT has now rescued and homed over 130,000 hens) and there is little better feeling than to rescue these birds from a life of misery and pass them on to loving new owners who have dedicated part of their gardens to give these hens a well-deserved retirement.
I now have five hens sharing my garden, including these two poor souls now with coats on to keep them warm.
If you get the chance, please do have a look at this site www.bhwt.org.uk and please do not buy battery eggs. This means both whole "shell" eggs from caged hens AND food that contains eggs (egg powder) from battery hens.
In the UK, supermarkets such as the Co-op and M&S now only use free-range eggs in their "own-brand" produce (cakes, biscuits, etc).
Battery cages are due to be banned across the EU from 2012. Support British free-range farmers and only buy free-range eggs and products made using free-range and not caged hens' eggs."
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With much pride it’s my very great pleasure to say a huge and heartfelt welcome to our new Italian office and staff. Dave Neale our UK Director flew over to Genoa recently to complete the final paperwork and welcome Ettore, Carmen, Leo, Irene and Antonello officially into the Animals Asia family.
They have been so incredibly generous in covering the administration costs themselves for Italy's operation – leaving every penny to go towards our projects helping bears, dogs and cats.
Thank you, each and every one and so much looking forward to working with you all in 2009 and into the future.
And here is the new team:
Back, left to right: Povolero Fabio (Italian Notary), Leonardo Ferraro (AAF Italy Founding Member), Carmen Aiello (AAF Italy Chairman), Dave Neale (AAF UK Director). Front: Rosa Voiello (Italian Notary), Ettore Pellegrini (AAF Italy Founding Member).
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