Our Projects: Moon bear rescue
DSWF supported since: 1999
NEWS: China Rallies Against Bear Farming - March 2011 - see pdf below left
In countries across Asia, thousands of bears live a life of torture on bear farms, so that their bile can be extracted and used in traditional medicine to cure ailments ranging from headaches to hemorrhoids. Bears are confined in cages which vary from agonizingly tiny "crush" cages to larger pens, all of which cause terrible physical and mental suffering.
Inspired by the dedication of Animals Asia Foundation (AAF) founder, Jill Robinson MBE, DSWF funds the rescue and rehabilitation of moon bears from the intolerable suffering of bile farming, maintains the sanctuaries and supports AAF work with Chinese government partners, to close down more farms and rescue more bears.
Founded in 1998, AAF now has sanctuaries in Vietnam and in Sichuan Province, which are bursting at the seams with happy, healthy bears who have put their miserable lives on the farms far behind them. Following AAF's Agreement in July 2000 with the Government Departments of Beijing and Sichuan to rescue 500 bears and work together to end bear farming in China, 39 bear farms have been closed and 139 bears confiscated into AAF's care.
The sanctuaries also create jobs and salaries for people who previously had no work, oversee the purchase of local equipment and materials and the purchase of local food and produce, for bears and people alike. Also central to the rescue work is the development of education programmes that provide a unique opportunity to spread a message of respect for all animals, whilst advancing the concept of animal welfare in China.
