Jill’s Christmas blog: Jingle Bears…

… Jingle Bears, Jingle all the way! And boy did Jingle and friends enjoy their festive days in our sanctuaries, after our sensational carers decorated their enclosure with all things nice.

In China, poor Santa was clearly in big trouble as Jingle threw him down onto the grass in House 4 and unceremoniously tore him apart, before tackling a fruit-laden straw man who soon suffered the same fate! Not bad going for a 3-legged bear – but Jingle is a Christmas pro, having lived with her friends in our Long Qiao sanctuary Chengdu, since the end of 2009.

Poor Rudolph sadly fared no better, as big boof Wang Cai made his way purposefully towards him, before batting his wooden head off his shoulders and seizing the brightly coloured boxes he’d been carrying on his sleigh.

All around, excited bears were tearing into hessian stockings filled with straw and mixed nuts, dribbling over red and green cardboard candy sticks choc full with dried fruit, and the whole enclosure echoed with laughter ringing out from all in our team as the residents were on a mission to enjoy and destroy the gifts that make this time of the year just a little bit extra special for us all.

Sweet Tatzi – our gorgeous senior citizen (and possibly the oldest moon bear in the world at 36 years) happily took his prize to a quiet corner and ripped into his lovingly wrapped parcel bursting with festive treats.

Our marvellous Content Officer, Olivia, also recorded the whole morning’s antics, describing how gorgeous, clever Holly snatched the first gift on Santa’s sleigh, before making a beeline for a festive scarecrow, expertly shredding it to pieces, to liberate the hidden treats inside. 

Wang Cai rounded off the morning, jumping into the sleigh for a joyful tumble, before turning his attention to the decorations and dispatching them in seconds.

Olivia also reflects that the party in China was a beautiful milestone, marking the first Christmas our more recently rescued Nanning bears celebrated alongside our older Chengdu residents in the same space.

This successful integration is a testament to the months of dedicated work of our House 4 team, as everyone witnessed the most wonderful proof of their peaceful coexistence.

Here, Woofstock was seen elegantly opening a present while standing and balancing on the cement tunnel, while Ki meticulously foraged for every tiny treat hidden in the Christmas tree nearby. Collaboration in motion, at its very best.

Finally, Wang Cai and Jingle couldn’t resist a ‘selfie’ as they stood proudly on their hind legs, striking a perfect pose beneath the soon to be destroyed ‘Merry Christmas’ sign!

Olivia concluded that the day was a profoundly beautiful sight, with the vision of the bears playing, exploring and celebrating together being the greatest gift of all.

Meanwhile, in Vietnam…

Our wonderful Supporter Engagement Coordinator, Linh, noted that it was no surprise that Christmas bear was the first to start the Christmas party in our sanctuary in Tam Dao – striding confidently over to the tyre structure to open three presents in a row, all by himself.

Cocoon and Anh tried a more strategic approach, with Cocoon thoughtfully contemplating the investment of effort and climbing high for the biggest box, while Anh would quietly take his gifts onto the A-frame, and avoid having to share them with any other bear!

Meanwhile, dear Star appeared to like investigating the cardboard boxes themselves, rather than searching for the treats, and methodically picked up every discarded box while happily dancing and inviting his friends to dance too.

Dear Calissa simple tore the boxes into tiny shreds before using the larger pieces as rugs to spend her festive time in comfort on the grass. And while Tott only scored one gift, she was more than happy with the contents inside and greedily hoovered down the popcorn, seeds and dried fruit.

The beautiful star shaped hessian sacks our thoughtful team had spent hours creating and stuffing with straw were quickly reduced to kicker toys by youngsters Anh, Em, Mudky, and Chilli-Bienchen – who were hell-bent on grabbing as many toys as they could.

And sweet Tango hid behind the Christmas tree, delicately munching on corn strings, hanging tomatoes and popcorn lights. So successful was he that by the time dear Star was ready to give up his empty boxes and hunt around for something to eat, there were only bare branches left. Not put off at all, Star snapped the hapless tree in half and made his Christmas bright.

And at our second Vietnam bear sanctuary in Bach Ma, our delighted Supporter Engagement Coordinator, Mai Trang, reported that our team had busily prepared a surprise for our newly rescued bears!

Using carton boxes wrapped in colourful festive paper, and stuffed full of plums, mangos. kiwis and coconut flakes, each box was then slathered with lashings of strawberry jam, peanut butter and fruit syrups to level up the smell.

A small Christmas tree, decorated with veggies and straw was thrown in for good measure and the bears scampered out to enjoy their new toys.

Among our most recent rescues, Wynken, Blynken and Nod approached their wreaths and boxes with caution. Nod was by far the most confident bear, but even she was taking small steps, while sniffing in earnest and figuring out if the boxes were safe to approach. Within minutes she was ripping the presents apart and enjoying the treasures inside.

Blynken was more hesitant, but eventually threw caution to the wind and greedily tucked into her treats. And finally, after much contemplation, sweet Wynken carefully walked her favourite goodies over to her den before surreptitiously savouring them all there.

As Mai Trang said, each of our bears found their own way to explore their new presents and enjoy playing with them at this special time of year.

Their curiosity and wonder reminded everyone of how diverse and unique their rich behaviours can be, as our entire team had watched with the pride of parents while the bears adapted to their new environment, their new enrichment, their world of choices.

A world that you, dear reader, and our magnificent teams and supporters have gifted them to enjoy for the rest of their merry lives.

Old friends reunited for Christmas

Last but not least, a beautiful update from Tran Thi Kim Loan, our Captive Wildlife Project Officer in Vietnam who has written the most perfect and touching summary of two old friends, separated in misery for years, until being reunited again in the forest of Yok Don.

These two heroic ladies are close to so many of our hearts – please have your tissues ready as we share how your kindness cured them both…

‘Among all the elephants we have rescued, the story of Kham Phanh and H’Blu is the one that moves the Captive Wildlife team the most. Both came from Lak district, where they were once forced into labour completely against their natural instincts: Khăm Phanh was driven to exhaustion pulling heavy logs, while H’Blu bent under workloads no elephant should ever have to endure.

‘When they were brought to Yok Don Forest, both stepped into their new home with the hesitation of hearts that had been deeply wounded.

‘Kham Phanh, still energetic by nature, placed each cautious step on unfamiliar ground, while H’Blu, ever gentle, stood quietly beneath an old tree for a long time, as if trying to reassure herself. And gradually, nature healed them in the softest way possible.

‘The day they reunited after years of being separated in Lak was a moment no one could forget: the two elephants froze, stared, and then rushed toward each other, wrapping their trunks tightly and trumpeting with overflowing emotion.

‘From that moment on, Kham Phanh and H’Blu became the best of friends in Yok Don Forest, always together, foraging, bathing, resting under the canopy, and living what it truly means to be an ‘elephant being elephant.’

‘Today, during the festive season, the two once again stood side by side, eagerly opening their Christmas gifts. Kham Phanh energetically and excitedly tearing apart the leaf-wrapped box, while H’Blu gently explored each decorated branch. Every now and then, they twined their trunks together as if to say: ‘We are safe now. And we finally get to live as ourselves.’

‘In the vast Yok Don Forest, Kham Phanh and H’Blu are enjoying freedom, joy, and a peaceful life, one that we, the Animals Asia Foundation, together with all who care for and support animals, have lovingly helped restore for these giant beings with such deep emotions.’

Once you’ve heard an elephant squeak with joy, you never forget it… especially when it comes from Kham Phanh just inches apart from her friend in the forest. Thank you, from our grateful hearts, for the sound of freedom – from our bears, elephants, dogs, cats and animals of Asia. 

Wishing you all the happiest, healthiest and most peaceful holidays.  May you channel your inner bear and elephant as you eat, drink and be merry, and may kindness prevail and heal for all creatures – great and small – in 2026.