 |
| China rises against bear farming |
 |
The start of 2012 saw an extraordinary rise in support for our campaign to end bear bile farming in China, with people taking to the streets and going online in unprecedented numbers to make their feelings known. The outrage was sparked by a bear-bile company’s plans to list on the stock market and also comments from a traditional medicine body that bears on farms did not suffer. See the full story here.
|
| |
|
|
|
|
| Over the Moon with Moonstruck |
Moonstruck – an exhibition in aid of Animals Asia featuring beautiful drawings and sculptures by internationally renowned artists Suzie Marsh and Richard Symonds (pictured here with Jill) – recently ended after a short, successful run at the Menier Gallery, London.
During the exhibition both artists spoke movingly of the visit to the Chengdu sanctuary that had inspired them to create their bear pieces. They also gave live demonstrations of their work. Jill Robinson was present to open the event and update visitors on the recent encouraging increase in public support in China for moves to end bear farming. Among the high-profile visitors were actor and Animals Asia supporter Rula Lenska, Martin Roberts from “Homes under the Hammer”, Simon Cowell and Jim Incledon from Wildlife SOS (makers of a recent film about bear farming and our work in Vietnam) and wildlife artist Gary Hodges. Chinese superstar Karen Mok continued her wonderful support by purchasing Suzie’s beautiful sculpture of “her” bear Baobe. You can read more about the exhibition here.
To create the works for Moonstruck, Richard and Suzie immersed themselves for a whole year in bears of all shapes and sizes and, in Richard’s case, also other endangered Chinese wildlife, such as snow leopards and tigers. They are also generously donating up to 50 per cent of the proceeds of sales from Moonstruck – a kind and significant boost for our work to end bear farming.
Drawings and sculptures from the Moonstruck exhibition remain on view in our special online gallery. We hope you will take this opportunity to purchase some of these wonderful drawings and sculptures – available at prices to fit every pocket – and, in so doing, show your support for our work and our beloved bears.
|
|
 |
|
|
 |
| Viewer outrage at undercover footage |
A new documentary showing undercover footage of Chinese bear farms has added to the uproar over the cruelty of the bear bile industry. Within 25 hours of the release of the documentary, "The Moon Bear", over 600,000 people in China had viewed the shocking footage, echoing the growing public outcry against bear farming. The independent film-makers released a short version of the documentary at an Animals Asia press conference in Beijing in February. To watch the film and learn more about the impact it is having, click here.
|
|
|
|
| Hampstead Heath Walk for Freedom |
Everybody, even our four-legged friends, can make a difference for the moon bears and cats and dogs in Asia – by taking part in the 2012 Hampstead Heath guided Walk for Freedom.
Following an entirely new route, the popular and enjoyable walk – with 2.5-mile or 5-mile options – will take place on Saturday, 12 May at 10.30am. Our guide for the day will be Simon Lee, the Superintendent of Hampstead Heath, who will lead walkers through some lesser-known areas of one of London’s biggest green lungs.
For just £10 registration fee and a suggested minimum sponsorship/donation of £25 join us and make a difference. You could also encourage your friends, colleagues and family to join you and create a team. For sponsorship forms, and to register, contact [email protected] or call 01579 347148.
|
|
 |
|
|
 |
| First Animals Asia charity shop |
Our first official charity shop opened at 20 West Street, Weston-Super-Mare on 23 April. The shop is the brainchild of Denise Jacobs and volunteers from the West Somerset support group, who have been raising funds and awareness for Animals Asia since 2000.
The shop, which raised over £1,000 in its first week, will sell bargain-priced donated clothing, furniture, electrical goods, DVDs and books. Customers and donators will also get the chance to meet Max, a black and white Collie cross, who previously “worked” at the RSPCA shop in Weston, but who is now concentrating his efforts on ending cruelty for bears, dogs and cats in China and Vietnam.
Our thanks go to Denise Jacobs for getting the shop off the ground and pulling together and coordinating a phenomenal team of volunteers – and also to her wonderfully supportive husband, Peter.
Thanks also to Adrian Apps for the interior shop fitting, Brian for the external signwriting, Lisa for her tireless work collecting donated goods, Lee Gibbins for his key help in the shop's development and to the many volunteers who generously helped with painting and cleaning, including Rita, Linda and Sylvia.
Last but not least, thanks to Tracey Stokes from the textile department at Weston College, who printed the beautiful Animals Asia curtains for free, and to Mike from the local Millets store, who donated sizing cubes, hangers, rails, busts and a steamer. It was also great to have the support of local John Penrose MP – who came along to cut the ribbon with Denise and Moonie.
|
|
|
|
|
| Devon gets charity shop too |
Another charity shop was also opened on behalf of Animals Asia by Jacky Hallesy, our tireless North Devon Support group coordinator. Occupying half of her husband’s business premises, Jacky’s shop is located at Unit 12, Butchers Row, Bideford, Devon, and is open Tuesday to Saturday 10am to 3pm. If you are in the area, please pop in and show your support.
|
|
 |
|
|
|
 |
| Little Dragon comes home |
The Lunar New Year of the Dragon got off to a great start for one very small bear when we brought Tieu Long (meaning “Little Dragon”) home to our Vietnam sanctuary. Tieu Long and another cub had been confiscated by the Son La Forest Protection Department a few weeks before from a man who had been keeping wildlife illegally. Sadly, the other cub was weak and died before we could help. To read more about Little Dragon, please see here.
|
|
|
|
|
| ‘Healing without Harm’ launches in China |
The year began on a positive note in China too with the launch of our new Healing without Harm campaign to urge the Chinese pharmaceutical industry to stop producing, promoting and selling bile from farmed bears. The launch in January included presentations from experts who warned of the health risks of consuming bile and also the extreme level of cruelty involved in the bile trade. Forty Chinese pharmacists have now joined the campaign, pledging never to sell bear bile or parts and encouraging the use of alternatives.
|
|
 |
|
|
|
 |
| Push to end Vietnam bear bile tours |
In February, our Vietnam Director, Tuan Bendixsen, worked with the Vietnamese authorities on a campaign to discourage the illegal sale of bear bile in the tourist area of Ha Long Bay, which is known for its bear bile farms and “fresh bear bile” as well as its stunning natural scenery. Posters in Vietnamese, Korean and English were put up in local hotels and on the wharf, where up to 400 tourist boats can arrive at any one time. Please see Jill’s Blog for more.
|
|
|
|
|
| Twizzle and the Happy Dog competition |
On New Year's Eve 2008, pregnant Twizzle, along with 148 other sick and badly injured dogs, was heading for a live animal market – and ultimately the stockpot -- when the truck she was on was intercepted and the dogs rescued by the Qi Ming dog rescue centre. UK vet nurse Helena Molloy was one of our volunteer vet nurses who helped with this rescue and nursed Twizzle back to health. It wasn't long before Twizzle captured her heart.
This April, to coincide with our new video about Twizzle, the UK team ran a Happy Dog photo competition online. The competition was inundated with entries, mostly of dogs that had been previously rescued in the UK, and it was heart-warming to see the happy lives they are now leading. Although it was incredibly difficult to pick a winner, Jill finally decided on Alfie, a Border Collie, who, as his companion David says, “was once sad but is now a happy dog.”
Of Alfie’s photo Jill said, “Alfie’s lovely trusting eyes, smiling mouth and the sheer joy of loving something as simple as a stick in a field of bluebells ... it doesn’t get better for a dog.” A well-deserved £100 of doggy goodies, generously donated by Company of Animals, is on its way to Alfie.
To view the competition entries, please click here. Keep an eye out for our upcoming Quirky Cats competition too.
|
|
 |
|
|
|
 |
| Symposium on cat-population control |
This March, cat-protection groups from across China gathered in Beijing to hear experts speak on all aspects of cat population control at the “Ist China Cat Management Symposium”. Animals Asia’s Dog and Cat Welfare team worked with Lucky Cats in Beijing to organise the forum, which was attended by 70 delegates from 30 welfare groups across 23 cities in China.
|
|
|
|
|
| Yao Ming stands tall for the bears |
We were thrilled when Chinese basketball legend and American NBA star Yao Ming and his wife, Ye Li, visited our Chengdu bear sanctuary this February. Yao’s support means the world to the bears. For more on his visit, please see here.
|
|
 |
|
|
|
 |
| Running for the bears |
Congratulations to Laura Croker (pictured here) on completing the London marathon in a personal best time of 3 hours 9 minutes and 14 seconds. Laura’s fantastic run has raised over £1,500 for our work. If you’re running – or thinking of running – for the bears, please drop us a line to let us know at [email protected].
|
|
|
|
|
| Welcome to ‘Paws for Thought’ |
Please check out our new online newsletter, “Paws for Thought”. The quarterly newsletter focuses on our devoted Dr Dogs and Professor Paws and their lovely volunteer guardians, who are bringing comfort and joy to thousands of people in China. Click here to read “Paws for Thought”.
|
|
 |
|
|
|
 |
| Shout-out! |
Supporter Jeanie Elford would love to hear from anyone in the West Sussex area who would be interested in starting or joining an Animals Asia support group with her. If you would like to get in touch please email her directly at [email protected].
|
|
|
|
|
| And finally … |
Eight-year-old Olivia Yabsley, from Penpol School, Hayle in Cornwall, wrote this lovely poem about the bears, which will take pride of place in the education room at our Chengdu sanctuary. Her school is also holding a non-uniform day to raise funds for Animals Asia on 25 May.
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
Get the latest news from Animals Asia by following us on Facebook. |
|
|
|
| |
|
|
 |
