http://www.animalsasia.org/blog/index.php http://www.animalsasia.org/blog/rss/RSS_img-01.jpg http://www.animalsasia.org/blog/index.php Copyright 2010, No Author No Author en-US SPHPBLOG 0.4.8 http://www.animalsasia.org/blog/index.php?entry=entry100310-102533 “Danny has hobbies: being stroked, car watching and smelling feet”. And so goes a verse in the poem “A Day in the Life of Danny the Cat” by celebrity poet Benjamin Zephaniah who came to see us on site in Chengdu this week.

Officially described as a British Jamaican Rastafarian writer and poet, Benjamin is a well-known figure in contemporary English literature, and was included in “The Times” list of Britain’s top 50 post-war writers in 2008. He has 15 honorary doctorates to his name and – much, much more importantly – is simply a lovely, self-effacing guy who has lived and loved to the full.

One of his earliest friends and teachers seems to have been Danny the cat – and of course we were tickled pink to finally have him on site here in China showing off our slightly larger, but no less friendly, four-legged friends.

UK supporters Lee and Heidi have been trying for a while to persuade Benjamin to come and see us during his regular trips to China, and on Tuesday, finally, he did. There he was breezing his way around the bear enclosures, stopping to feed Rupert some treats (below), saying hi to staff and all the resident bears and talking affably to the local media, who followed him around with cameras pressed close to his face. Well how can you blame them? He’s tall and majestic with dreadlocks down to his hips – and has a kindness that comes from living life in the raw and being a vegan to boot.

Benjamin also spoke and recited some poems at The Bookworm pub in Chengdu – an event packed to the rafters – and there was a rousing cheer from our team when he said very early on: “Yesterday, I fell in love with a moon bear”.

Well Benjamin, we all fell in love with you. Come back and see us again soon, and thank you for your early Christmas wishes, which for those of you who are interested began with:

Be nice to yu turkeys dis Christmas
Cos’ turkeys jus wanna hav fun.



]]> http://www.animalsasia.org/blog/index.php?entry=entry100310-102533 No Author Wed, 10 Mar 2010 18:25:33 GMT http://www.animalsasia.org/blog/index.php?entry=entry100305-212024
Our own visits, and that of journalists, show that the parks continue to cash in on an illegal trade in tiger bone wine (and other body parts) – laughing in the face of regulations that have made it illegal to trade in any part of the tiger since 1993.

Also abused for entertainment, the tigers are drugged, de-clawed, de-toothed, and chained to concrete slabs, as visitors are persuaded to part with their dollars for the delight of seeing their children sitting on these poor creatures’ backs.

During the recent Lunar Festival celebrations, the parks invented ever new and revolting schemes to make money. Chimelong Safari Park, which Irene, Rainbow, Dave and I visited towards the end of last year (together with celebrity Australian chef Simon Bryant), has now apparently “trained” its tigers to draw Chinese characters for good luck. A paint brush is thrust into the animal’s mouth, while the tiger “paints” New Year messages onto paper, which will bring “happiness and fortune” for those that stump up a fee.

A two-year-old would recognise that the stooped head, flattened ears and terrified demeanour show an animal not completely at home under the menacing posture of the trainers.

These photos, taken from a TV screen, were sent to us by a supporter who was appalled by the cruelty:







Huge banner pictures around the park show that it is supported by Chinese celebrities, such as Hong Kong star Dicky Cheung Wai Kin. How proud we are that our own Chinese celebrities like Karen Mok, Gigi Fu, Ren Xianqi, Zhao Zhongxiang, Zhang Yue, Baihua, Xin, Gao Yuanyuan, Jiang Yiyan, Sun Li, Deng Chao, Yu Kewei, Guan Zhe and the Fengyun Boys are loud and proud in their calls for China’s wild-animal parks to be cruelty-free.

A new fad at other zoos is to invite the public to pay for the privilege of touching a chained tiger’s rump – a play on the belief from ancient times that such an act proved your bravery. (This photo is courtesy of Sina.com.cn.)




And at Changsha Zoo in Hunan Province, they are currently cashing in on selling tigers’ whiskers for luck. Apparently these lucky tokens are said to ward off evil and are especially helpful for drivers and children. “The whiskers are not cut or plucked from the beasts,” said a zoo employee, but are collected after being shed. "Fifteen-centimetre whiskers are sold for 100 yuan (US$14.65), while shorter, thinner ones range from 50 to 30 yuan.”

Anyone who has cats knows that the odd whisker can be found shed around the house if your eyes are good enough to spot one – but enough found lying around from the tigers to support an obviously roaring trade? Give me a break.
]]> http://www.animalsasia.org/blog/index.php?entry=entry100305-212024 No Author Sat, 06 Mar 2010 05:20:24 GMT http://www.animalsasia.org/blog/index.php?entry=entry100302-190137




Kind volunteer Annie has been "bear watching" over Jingle – updating on her likes and dislikes, and how she behaves (or misbehaves) and took these pictures of a boisterous cub now "unladylike, playful and pensive". I can hear the "ahhhs" from here.
]]> http://www.animalsasia.org/blog/index.php?entry=entry100302-190137 No Author Wed, 03 Mar 2010 03:01:37 GMT http://www.animalsasia.org/blog/index.php?entry=entry100224-081235
Super special and oozing with tender loving care, every single one – you know who you are – and we have loved having you all staying with us on site. Several “vollies” have even returned twice – including Emily, Judy and Diana – and now our Annie.




Annie first came to us on a visit after she won a competition in Woman’s Day magazine in Australia to name a bear. She chose “Mani” and we chose “Rosie” (who only had a nickname) as the honoured recipient of this new name, which is part of a Buddhist mantra “Om Mani Padme Hum” and means “jewel in the lotus”.

Hands up we find it quite hard to remember Rosie’s new name sometimes – but Annie always gives a little tut, and beams her lovely smile, which says she forgives us once again. Here's lovely Mani enjoying a good roll in the grass:




Annie arrived back last October for her second stint which was meant to last only until December. However, learning that we were short of volunteers, she then very generously volunteered for another three months and has thrown herself into bear and dog work alike.

During the run-up to both Christmas and Chinese New Year, Annie worked quietly at night behind the scenes to give our bears a holiday treat – in the form of what Rainbow calls “Dinosaur eggs”. In fact they are gorgeous, big paper mache balls painted with bright red and yellow non-toxic paint and filled with treats that the bears have to “work” to break open and devour the goodies inside.






Laid out in the enclosures this month just days before welcoming the Year of the Tiger, Annie’s creation looked fabulous (especially as she had painted Happy Chinese New Year in both Chinese and English!) and the bears couldn’t wait to destroy and enjoy them. Here in her own words Annie explains how she came up with this brilliant form of enrichment:

“What idea could I come up with to help the bears celebrate Chinese New Year? Twenty five years experience of teaching craft to primary school children came to the rescue and I launched into paper mache production.





The result was 21 hollow ball shapes hiding dried fruit as special treats for special bears. Painted bright red with Chinese New Year greetings, the treat balls were ripped apart by the bears to reveal the hidden goodies which were then eagerly eaten. It was fun to make the treat balls but even more fun to see how they helped enrich the bears’ lives.”

This contented, red-nosed recipient showed just how much the balls were appreciated!




Annie also gives wonderful presentations of her life with the bears when she returns home to Australia - and one such presentation at the Forster Public School saw teacher Lindy Nixon and her students responding with wonderful art work and poetry which they sent to the sanctuary for display in our Education Room on site.

Way to go Annie – a big bear sized hug and xie xie ni (thank you) to you and all of our volunteer family over the years who have brought sunshine into the lives of our animals on site.

And this from Senior Bear Manager Nic’s weekly bear report about how much of a "gem" Annie is .... :-)

“Annie is busy with shake making, dog walking, hospital bear husbandry, some administrative work and observations on Jingle bear. She has been a little diamond.”
]]> http://www.animalsasia.org/blog/index.php?entry=entry100224-081235 No Author Wed, 24 Feb 2010 16:12:35 GMT http://www.animalsasia.org/blog/index.php?entry=entry100221-150157
Hello everyone, no words to let you know that Tiger passed away a few minutes ago. Kirsty had emailed Heather and I first thing this morning to say that he'd had a bad night – with laboured breathing and refusing to suckle. But, acknowledging that he was a good colour, passing urine and faeces, and moving around, both she and Belinda were up all night giving him oxygen, electrolytes and antibiotics. Sadly, he continued to grow worse, with breathing becoming more shallow, and died quietly just now.

Understandably they're in pieces, but no question that they did all they could to give our Tiger the best ever chance. The circumstances of his short life are the legacy of a trade that has no conscience – and a shame on every bear farmer in Asia.

Please join me in sending commiserations to all in our amazing Vietnam team – especially Belinda – who has had next to no sleep for over a week. She has raised literally hundreds of young mammals and they could not have been in safer or more caring hands.

RIP little Tiger from a family who loved you. x






The following message from Belinda’s husband, Russel, reduced me to tears - as did the pictures of Tiger's final goodbye. What perfect moon bear crescent he had - and what a tragedy that his strong heart stopped beating beneath it.

It is with a heavy heart, that I send out these final photos of precious little Tiger. It has been mentioned several times already and I'll repeat it once more. This little guy had all the heart and fight of a tiger with the strength of a bear. Anyone who would have had the privilege of meeting him would have been astonished with the strength of his little frame.

We've just come from his funeral and I can confidently say that spirits here have never been lower. Although the Bear workers weren't involved in his direct care, they all visited the window regularly and even the security guards took a keen interest asking every day how he was. As it’s been mentioned before, this little guy had no clue of the buzz going on because of him, but I find it absolutely amazing the way this tiny little creature has affected so many people.

From the beginning of his short life there had been some question as to whether mom should have him, or whether a surrogate should take him on. And now that he has passed it is natural to second guess everything that has happened over the past six days, and ask whether we did the right things. But I can confidently say, after spending the last week at Belinda's side. Even Italia would have been happy with expert care given by Belinda's experienced and gentle hands. Please keep her in your thoughts, as now she is the second mother to lose this cub.

To sum up. This beautiful little bear has lost his fight and left us all broken hearted. Dropped in our hands on the eve of a New Year and challenging even the best animal caregiver. This little guy was a gem that no longer has a sparkle but will be remembered as the fighting "Tiger" that we never got to know.




]]> http://www.animalsasia.org/blog/index.php?entry=entry100221-150157 No Author Sun, 21 Feb 2010 23:01:57 GMT http://www.animalsasia.org/blog/index.php?entry=entry100215-043517
"He was born during the night last night (Italia is his mom), and found very cold and crying this morning (Sat, 13 Feb). I warmed him up, and then a little later offered him some milk formula, which he happily accepted. What a relief.

He has continued to eat well throughout the day, and poos, wees, and fusses just like a baby should. He has a few injuries, most notably that his ears were bitten off, but everything has been cleaned up, and is expected to heal well."

Kirsty (below left), Belinda (right) and team are now looking after the little cub literally around the clock. Not surprisingly, given that he was born at the start of the Lunar New Year, our new cub is now called "Tiger".




Mum is also doing well, curled up in a nest of straw and eating the treats offered. As a new mother, and with limited space in the recovery cage, it seems that Italia possibly accidentally nipped off her cub's ears while trying to give birth. Also, as a wild-caught bear, then caged, farmed and finally recently rescued into a new safe, but strange, environment - and considering she is a first-time mum and lack of appropriate rearing area, the little cub will be hand-reared away from his mother.




Little Tiger is most definitely not home and dry by a long chalk - but if our Vietnam team's previous cub-rearing skills are anything to go by, he most certainly has the very best chance.




Now we also know that the bear farmer was lying about how long he had kept her (according to the Taiwanese owner, the bears had been kept for six to seven years in concrete cells at the Binh Duong city headquarters of his company before being housed in separate compartments in cargo containers).

Clearly she has been recently wild-caught, which also explains her preference for leaves and "browse" when offered food, and her pregnancy now explains her somewhat unusual behaviour after arriving with us from the farm.

Keep the prayers coming - Tiger still has a long way to go, but is fighting for survival in the true style of his namesake.

For more, please see our Rescue Diary.
]]> http://www.animalsasia.org/blog/index.php?entry=entry100215-043517 No Author Mon, 15 Feb 2010 12:35:17 GMT http://www.animalsasia.org/blog/index.php?entry=entry100213-052452
Dear all: I make a sweet dream for our team and bears!

Moonbear's wish: Everybody in Animals Asia will be happy in 2010,
Chinese Tiger Year will bless all the moonbears get free! :-)

..........to one and all, with thanks and love for another year of progress and passion, and ever more animals in Asia given sanctuary and hope. Happy Lunar New Year! Jillx


]]> http://www.animalsasia.org/blog/index.php?entry=entry100213-052452 No Author Sat, 13 Feb 2010 13:24:52 GMT http://www.animalsasia.org/blog/index.php?entry=entry100209-223710
As a new initiative in our Healing without Harm campaign, Susan had done an incredible job of convincing 33 Chinese medicine shops to throw away their entire stock of bear bile products and pledge that they would never again prescribe or sell anything to do with bears.

Coinciding with the death of our beautiful Andrew on 9th February 2006, there was no doubt who our poster boy should be – his image shining out from the pharmacy windows on posters and stickers that carried slogans in Chinese making the owners’ feelings clear:

"We don't sell bear bile products."

"More than 10,000 bears are suffering because of bile extraction. Many have chronic gall bladder disease and liver cancer."

"You don't need bear bile products. And, they threaten your health."

"Please don't buy any bear bile products!"





Launching this initiative at Dahua Pharmacy, our staff made themselves busy from early morning putting up the posters and a huge backdrop, and placing stickers on the shop doors and on the counters selling the drugs.





Shop owner, Mdm Cui kindly let us place two large jars containing livers from the bears we have loved and lost - one "normal" and one diseased so that people could clearly see that bear farming was killing the bears – and potentially killing consumers of bear bile too. The media crowded around and took notes as Rainbow and I asked who in their right mind would take a such a substance from animals dying in agony with their organs rotting away?




Students from Chengdu Traditional Chinese Medicine University and Chengdu 9th Middle School, and volunteers from a local dog and cat shelter "Loving Homes" chanted and held slogans and placards high in front of the local media, and the crowd of interested onlookers grew.

At one point, it seemed as if we were going to be told by the police to leave. Apparently the Mayor of Chengdu was due to do his rounds of the city in preparation for Chinese New Year and it was felt that a demonstration would be seen in a negative light. Incredibly, they relented (as we had permission to be in the street) and with smiling faces told us "we know what you do" and gave us the thumbs up!

The finale came as the shop owners and Animals Asia staff piled the bear bile products high in a round metal container – and set the whole lot alight. The flames billowed up into the Chengdu sky as the media filmed and took photographs, and the products turned to dust. One elderly lady was heard to say it was exactly what should happen to bear bile and the atmosphere was electric as everyone clapped and cheered.




Our own life-size bear, Moonie (once again superbly played by Jacky in a moon bear suit) enchanted the public and had his picture taken in front of Franzi tiny cage, which had Caesar's full-metal jacket balanced on top.

The students proudly held high more placards, including one that featured a famous Chinese cartoonist Heibei and which announced:

Cow gallstones banned – we're still alive!
Tiger bone banned – we're still alive!
If bear bile was banned – we'd still be alive!

Mdm Cui faced the cameras and showed the intelligence and compassion of her peers when she said: "As traditional Chinese medicine practitioners and entrepreneurs, we should all do our part and stop selling bear bile products. I hope that more and more drug stores join us and help to end bear farming."

And then it was on to the next location – Chengdu Super Pharmacy – for a repeat of all the above. The walk there was memorable too – a group of dedicated, determined people with one pure motive and all shouting out slogans as we walked. The traffic stopped, people took photographs with their cell phones and I just wanted to burst with pride.

At the pharmacy, one final addition in memory of Andrew was added to the event. During the burning of the bile products we threw in a symbolic cardboard bear cage made last night by Rainbow's wife Hong Chuan and repeated our promise, together, never to give up until bear farming ends. This final act saw Andrew's beautiful face looking down at us from the posters and reminded us of the lines of our poem, Spirit of Hope:

"Please look upon the others and give them promise of hope soon, and
tell them to be patient, and proudly wear the moon."

And our dream for China 2010 – that more bears will have sanctuary where they truly belong – in the wild.

For more on our launch, and some great photos, please see here.
]]> http://www.animalsasia.org/blog/index.php?entry=entry100209-223710 No Author Wed, 10 Feb 2010 06:37:10 GMT http://www.animalsasia.org/blog/index.php?entry=entry100209-053619
On the anniversary of Andrew's death in 2006, this beautiful song and words by Maria Daines shows that our bears are gone, but never forgotten. Andrew’s grave by the river overlooks the grassy mounds of bears, dogs and cats, who have enriched our lives. The immortal words written on his stone – “We are not weaker without you, but stronger because of you” – remind us all of why we are here.




His death touched staff and supporters around the world – and on this day of his anniversary, we’re launching an exciting new campaign in his memory. As part of our Healing without Harm campaign, we are joining together with traditional Chinese medicine doctors and pharmacists in China who have pledged never to use or sell bear bile or products.

More about that in the next blog in a day or so – but, for now, Maria’s song "Andrew", and the message I sent to the team on that unforgettable day we said goodbye to our beautiful Anderloo:


9th February 2006

Dear everyone,

I’m so sorry to pass on such sad news.........but we said goodbye to Andrew this afternoon. Early this morning he had a health check and ultrasound, which revealed that something was horribly wrong, and Kati and Phil then began abdominal surgery.

I won’t go into it now as it’s late and everyone’s so shocked and exhausted, but surgery was abandoned very early on as it became obvious that there was nothing we could do. It was the most aggressive and ugly cancer I have ever seen in my life and I don’t think anyone can quite believe it now.

The tumour removed surpassed anything we have seen before and, because the liver was so terribly affected (with approximately 5 per cent of its normal function remaining), Andrew’s blood wasn’t able to clot and he had been slowly bleeding to death.

Even yesterday, he ate more than he’d eaten the whole week before; those soft gentle lips pursing for another slice of tomato, a second tub of yogurt and a blueberry muffin, causing us to wonder for a second whether we were right to bring his surgery forward. So many variables are involved – and in the past we have felt surgery essential, only to find nothing medically wrong as the bears have entered a “normal” pattern of lethargic, inappetant behaviour associated with hibernation of the species in the wild.

Yet today, it was the killer we know so well... liver cancer; possibly originating from a tumour factor connected with the massive infection from damage caused on the farms, the demon that lurked silently in Andrew’s body, waiting for the chance to strike.

No words can ever explain the grief everyone here is feeling – we cremated and buried our mighty Andrew at 6pm with local TV cameras and the San Francisco Chronicle recording another chapter in bear farming history – an outpouring of anger and sadness which is difficult to describe even now, but which united everyone here with the conviction and determination that Andrew will never die in vain.




I know too that this will be a horrible day for you as well – Andrew was so much more than our ambassador, our friend.... he was the bear who began it all; our noble, forgiving, gentle giant who will live in our hearts forever.

RIP Anderloo, we love you.

Jillx
]]> http://www.animalsasia.org/blog/index.php?entry=entry100209-053619 No Author Tue, 09 Feb 2010 13:36:19 GMT http://www.animalsasia.org/blog/index.php?entry=entry100208-053440
They painted, they drew, they wrote – all from the heart – describing in their own unique way how much bears suffer on the farms and what everyone can do to help set them free. The pictures were absolutely glorious – an honest interpretation of how a caged or free bear feels, all coming from the hearts of children who care.

Organised and funded by the Standard Chartered Bank, the competition was a runaway success, with the children and their parents from five cities of China competing for the "golden prizes" of plaque, certificate and a huge plush moon bear. Here are six gold medal winners’ fabulous artworks.









Over one hundred people came to our sanctuary for the prize-giving ceremony in front of the Chinese media – with speeches, a tour of the bear enclosures, a chance to see a gently sleeping Nina bear having a health-check on the surgery table, a cuddle with some of our devoted animal therapy Dr Dogs, and a delicious vegetarian lunch.

Bear Team Supervisor Rocky told everyone the story of our newly rescued cub, Jingle, who now has a Chinese name of “Tian Jiao” (favoured one) and the children’s eyes grew wide as they learned about her lucky escape from a farm.




Then there was Moonie (actually Senior Education Officer Jacky inside a moon bear costume), playing the fool and making all the children laugh. Our brilliant Education team of Rainbow, Sailing, Suki, Linda and Jacky had thought up a clever idea of showing the audience what a rescued bear needs the most. Their brightly painted props included vegetables, medicine, fruity shakes and bear food – and even a needle and syringe which Moonie spent minutes avoiding, before presenting his chubby bottom for that essential antibiotic and painkiller!

The audience loved it – and a perfect day with a perfect message was thoroughly enjoyed by all. With the final question: “Will you help us to end bear farming?” seeing an explosive and positive “YES!” – we were one more step closer to our goal.

Our heartfelt thanks to our friends at the Shanghai Standard Chartered Bank - especially General Manager retail Banking Products, Amy Liu, and her wonderful team; Sabrina, Roger, Bear and Jessica! The Standard Chartered Bank has many projects of social awareness across the world and we are proud to be working with them on something that has such an impact on the individual and the species as a whole.

As I said to the audience, if we can end just one wrong, just one example of torture in our lives, then we are giving children everywhere the inspiration that they can do more. As Jane Goodall says, there is always reason for hope – and one day, with children like these leading the change, we might heal this sick and suffocating world.
]]> http://www.animalsasia.org/blog/index.php?entry=entry100208-053440 No Author Mon, 08 Feb 2010 13:34:40 GMT