Timeline
25 years of kindness in action
From a single promise to end bear bile farming to life-changing rescues and historic policy wins, Animals Asia’s journey is one of courage, compassion and hope. We’ve overcome immense challenges, saved countless lives and transformed millions of hearts and minds.
Take a look back at the memorable moments that got us to where we are today.
1991 - 1997: Seeds of change
Jill Robinson launches Dr Dog, Asia’s first animal-assisted therapy program
Jill visits a bear bile farm in China and discovers the brutal truth
Vows to end bear bile farming and begins groundwork for a new organisation
Extensive research and animal welfare groundwork laid across Asia
1998 - 2003: The founding years
Animals Asia is officially founded by Jill Robinson and a few friends
We take over the long-term lease of a government rescue centre in Chengdu, China to turn it into a bear sanctuary
Jill is awarded an MBE from the UK’s Queen Elizabeth II for services to animal welfare in Asia
Animals Asia offers to work with the Vietnam government to rescue the country’s 400 bile bears. Our offer is not taken up
Construction begins on our Chengdu bear sanctuary
The first rescued bears arrive at our China sanctuary
2003 - 2007: Laying roots
We launch Professor Paws in schools in Hong Kong and mainland China
The number of bears on bile farms in Vietnam increases to 4,000
The Vietnam government allows us to build a bear sanctuary in Tam Dao National Park
The first bears arrive at our Tam Dao sanctuary, cubs Mara and Mausi
We launch major public awareness campaigns in Vietnam about bear bile farming
2008 - 2012: Growing influence
Our Tam Dao bear sanctuary opens
Our work sees 20 of China’s 31 provinces become and promise to remain bear-farm free
The first bear farm closes in Vietnam and 19 bears arrive at our sanctuary
We host Asia’s biggest animal welfare forum, the four-day Asia for Animals Conference in China
We face eviction from Tam Dao. The sanctuary and our resident bears are at risk
Vietnam’s Prime Minister steps in and saves our sanctuary. Our bears are safe again
2013 - 2016: Deepening our impact
Animals Asia takes on the care of 132 bears on a former bile farm in Nanning, China
Both our sanctuaries receive international accreditation from the Global Federation of Animal Sanctuaries
1,900+ Chinese pharmacies pledge to stop selling bear bile
We start lobbying to end elephant riding in Vietnam
The number of dogs slaughtered at China’s annual dog meat festival in Yulin drops from 10,000 to 1,000 after campaigns by Animals Asia and other groups
The Vietnamese Traditional Medicine Association’s 70,000 members agree to stop prescribing bear bile by 2020
2017 - 2020: The turning point
Animals Asia signs a historic agreement with the Vietnam government to end bear bile farming
We sign an agreement with Yok Don National Park to launch Vietnam’s first ethical elephant tourism project
After years of campaigning by Animals Asia and other NGOs, China makes selling dog meat illegal
We become the first and only non-profit to join China’s Rabies Prevention and Control Committee
2021 – today: The future is in sight
After a seven-year campaign, Animals Asia is allowed to move the 101 bears remaining at an ex-bear farm in Nanning to our sanctuary in Chengdu
We sign a historic agreement with the Dak Lak government in Vietnam, to end elephant riding. Most of the country’s elephant riding takes place in Dak Lak
We open our second bear sanctuary in Vietnam, in Bach Ma National Park
Vietnam’s last bile bears start arriving at our new sanctuary
Working to end the dog meat trade in Vietnam
The future
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