We recently had an amazing couple of days with officials from 27 provinces across China joining local and international NGOs in a conference organised, funded and hosted by Animals Asia and Humane Society International in Nanjing.
The silence following Dr Jane Goodall’s speech was deafening – and then came the rapturous applause. Her words were greeted with warmth and passion by the audience who were in Hong Kong for Jane’s Roots and Shoots conference and who themselves, as per the title of the conference, were the Reason for Hope.
Swaying up there on a tree that no one thought she could climb, there was naughty Maggie who arrived at our Vietnam sanctuary in April 2009 weighing less than 3kgs and now topping the scales at 83kgs!
Well, as Jude, our Australia Donor Development and Administration Manager said this week, “It’s rainin’ bears!”. And it is.
I looked with disbelief at a story that has recently appeared in the media here in China - dogs being dyed to resemble wild and exotic animals.
Just seconds after returning to my room after enjoying seeing Oliver outside in his grassy enclosure, I heard a message on the walkie talkie from Bear Manager Anna inviting me back again to House 10 where brown bear Rocky was being let out into a den for the first time. So much excitement in one afternoon!
While we were in Shandong rescuing your bears a few weeks ago, I heard that you’d told some of our Chinese staff that you felt sad seeing the bears laid out for their health-checks, because now you could see the full extent of their wounds as they were free of their cages.
A big man with a big heart and a profound understanding of how any living being suffers behind bars. In the 1980s Terry Waite CBE made several trips to Lebanon to free hostages, before being taken captive himself from 20th January 1987 in Beirut. A hostage for 1,763 days, Terry was in total solitary confinement for four long years before finally being released on 18th November 1991.
A big thank you to directors, staff, volunteers, supporters and friends across the globe, for the past 12 years of so tirelessly and passionately helping dull and hopeless eyes shine brightly once more. Dedicated to you and the animals we rescue, and to those who rescue us - every single one - a beautiful piece written by Janine Allen for animals across the world.
What a night it was – over 100 major supporters, celebrities and the media in Hong Kong to celebrate the launch of our new 20-minute film, “Moon Bear Rescue: A decade on…”, and the launch of celebrity Karen Mok’s new public service announcement, “Stain”.
Jill founded Animals Asia in 1998, after an encounter with a caged bear on a farm in China changed her life forever. She now heads a team of over 300 enthusiastic staff and divides her time between our bear rescue centres in China and Vietnam and our Hong Kong head office. She travels extensively to participate in conferences and speak at fundraising events.
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