Ali MacGraw lends her voice to “Stop the Eviction” campaign

In early December, Academy Award nominated actress Ali MacGraw traveled from her home in New Mexico to Animals Asia’s Vietnam Bear Rescue Center (VBRC) to support our fight against the eviction order recently issued by Vietnam’s Ministry of Defence. As official Animals Asia North American Ambassador, and a powerful voice for the “Stop the Eviction” campaign, the renowned actress fielded questions from the media and spoke up on behalf of the bears, supporting our effort to maintain the Vietnam sanctuary on the land where it currently stands. The eviction would see 103 bears that have been rescued from the terrible bile industry put back into cages, 77 VBRC employees out of work, and the loss of more than $2 million invested in the construction of the sanctuary. Says MacGraw, “The world is watching.”

To learn more about our “Stop the Eviction” campaign and find out what you can do to help, please visit www.stoptheeviction.info.

Meet the team: Tuan Bendixsen

Tuan Bendixsen, Animals Asia’s Vietnam Director, is known for his rock steady perseverance and calm, collected demeanor, even as the VBRC currently faces eviction. In 2000, having spent nearly three decades in Australia, Tuan returned to his place of birth, Vietnam. After launching Hanoi’s first veterinary clinic, Tuan became familiar with Animals Asia and began to volunteer with us in 2004, officially joining the team as a staff member in 2005. Though Tuan says the greatest challenge to ending bear bile farming in Vietnam is changing people’s attitudes towards bears and the overall welfare of animals, he is encouraged by the shifts he has seen, especially from local government officials. For Tuan, “The biggest reward is when we rescue a bear from a bear farm and bring him to the center and after a long process of rehabilitation and getting him back to himself again, you see him on the grass. For many of them, that’s the first time they’re seeing the outdoors.”

Meet our volunteers: Lisa Vondle

San Diego, CA resident Lisa Vondle is not only a devoted Animals Asia supporter, but has the distinction of being our very first volunteer group leader in North America. Lisa contacted us in 2004 after reading a newspaper article mentioning our work while finalizing the adoption of her daughter in China. Lisa’s tireless efforts to help the bears include organizing Earth Day and Chinese New Year events, and wrapping gifts at local bookstores during the holiday season. She has been a regular speaker at local high schools, raising awareness among teens about bear bile farming and Animals Asia’s work to end the barbaric practice. “My biggest reward is seeing the students reach out to help by volunteering at booths or writing letters,” says Lisa. To learn how you can get involved with Animals Asia as a volunteer, please email [email protected].

Meet our bears: Ricky and Joey

Animals Asia’s rescue center in Vietnam recently welcomed two new residents – a pair of young moon bear cubs named Ricky (pictured here) and Joey. Discovered by authorities in a motorbike basket, the brothers had been originally purchased from a poacher and were presumably on their way to a bear bile farm in China. The two high-energy siblings share a love of the outdoors, and from the moment their den door slid open they were running around, climbing on the structures in the cub house enclosure, sniffing grass, and digging in the soil. Joey, the smaller of the two, is fast catching up to his brother in size – attributable to his hearty appetite for milk and growing appreciation of fruits and vegetables. The cub house where Ricky and Joey now reside is specially designed to cater to the needs of young bears, providing easy access to the outdoors and lots of opportunities for play.

Experience the adventure of a lifetime: The Huma Challenge

Animals Asia’s Huma Challenge offers a unique opportunity to explore some of China’s most storied sites and tour our China Bear Rescue Center as part of a small group. The adventure begins in Beijing, one of Asia’s most majestic cities, where the group will explore the Forbidden City, Tiananmen Square and remote parts of the Great Wall before flying to Chengdu to visit the rescued bears at our sanctuary. There participants will meet our magnificent moon bears and take part in a personal tour with Animals Asia’s Founder and CEO Jill Robinson followed by a reception on the rooftop of one of the bear houses. The final leg of the adventure involves a journey to Shanghai for a tour of the cosmopolitan and vibrant city. Trip dates are May 16–May 24, 2013. Full payment (including $300 registration, $2,190 for the tour from Beijing, and $1,000 fundraising target) due by March 7, 2013. Please direct inquiries to Alice Ng at [email protected]