In 1993 Jill Robinson MBE, walked in to a bear bile farm in China: "It's a torture chamber, a hell hole.....they literally can't stand up or turn around, they can just about put their paws out of the cage to feed themselves"

Jill was shocked in to action, setting up the Hong Kong based Animals Asia Foundation and began her tireless work resolutely building relationships and negotiating with the Government to bring an end to this appalling cruelty.

China Bear Rescue - creating win-win solutions for bears and people alike

Her name was Hong - at least that was the name I gave to the first bear I ever saw in one of China's notorious "bile extraction" farms in 1993. Going undercover and joining a group of Japanese tourists, I broke away from the group and found stairs leading to a basement below the farm. The vision was shocking - held in "crush" cages, were 32 endangered Asiatic Black Bears - called moon bears because of the beautiful yellow crescents on their chests. Nervous "popping" vocalizations echoed around the room and when I looked at their damaged bodies I knew why they were afraid. Here were animals which had been deliberately de-clawed and had their canine teeth brutally hacked away by the farmer who had taken away their defences in order to make them easier to "milk". Wounds of three feet along their bodies from where they had grown into the cage bars, and gaping, infected holes from where crude metal catheters protruded, showed how these gentle, intelligent animals had been milked as machines for their entire lives.

At one point I felt something touch my shoulder and spun around to see a bear with her arm stretched through the bars of the cage. Naively I took her paw - and, surprisingly she didn't rip my arm from the socket, but simply squeezed my fingers whilst our eyes connected in a moment which crossed every barrier of species and understanding. Her message was clear, and whilst today my overwhelming sorrow is of a bear we couldn't save, Hong - whose name means bear - became the ambassador for a dream which began the China Bear Rescue.

Today, our Sanctuary in Sichuan Province, is bursting at the seams with happy, healthy bears who have put their miserable lives on the farms far behind them. Following our 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 our care.

Our projects on site are providing "win-win" solutions. Once a farm closes, the farmer returns the original license to Animals Asia and receives compensation for his bears. No new licenses are issued, and farmers can never again legally enter this trade. Our Sanctuary creates jobs and salaries for people who previously had no work, sees the purchase of local equipment and materials, and the purchase of local food and produce, for bears and people alike.

Growing interest is being seen in China itself, following extensive coverage from journalists whose stories are spreading across the country in support of ending bear farming. Our Traditional Chinese Medicine Education Packs are seeing mass circulation to thousands of doctors and students who are now signing on in droves to our escalating campaign - "Rescue Black Bears - Give up Bear Bile Usage!". Central to the rescue is the development of education programmes which provide a unique opportunity for us to spread a message of respect for all animals, whilst advancing the concept of animal welfare in China.

Admittedly, the road to ending bear farming isn't easy. Today there are over 7,000 bears who are cruelly caged on farms - and still no Central Government policy calling for a final ban. Therefore as the only group rescuing 500 bears and working "from within", our evidence is crucial in building the case to end a disgraceful and unnecessary industry. With each new investigation of the bear farms, and with each new pitiful arrival on our operating table requiring anything up to seven hours of surgery, we are proving how the so-called "good" farms and "humane" methods of bile extraction are anything but acceptable . These bears are now receiving intensive care after surgery to repair years of abuse and damage. Tragically, two bears were so badly damaged they had to be euthanised, but so far we are hopeful that, following rehabilitation, all the rest will be able to join our other bears in the freedom of our sanctuary.

The bears, of course, have a special place in our hearts. Victims, who arrived violently aggressive and consumed with pain and fear, are today, showing how stoic and truly forgiving this species can be. Ambassadors like gentle three-legged Andrew, fun loving Jasper, mischievous Banjo and sweet elderly Franzi are all proof that miracles do happen. As their health has improved, so too has their confidence - and their eyes have gradually taken on the trusting look of animals who have put their years of torture behind and who understand that life is worth living again.

AAF continues to work tirelessly with Chinese government partners to close down more farms and rescue more bears in 2005.

We could not continue this rescue without the faith and help of supporters around the world. In the UK we are proud and very, very grateful to have the support of one of my personal heroes - David Shepherd and his fantastic team at the DSWF - on behalf of all in Animals Asia Xie Xie Ni - a big thank you - from the bears of China for giving them a voice and helping their plight.

To find out more about the China Bear Rescue please see www.animalsasia.org

Please help:

To help save China's bears from dire painful conditions and give them a new life please make a donation to Animals Asia Foundation by following the links below to make a donation or you can phone the Foundation Office on 01483 272323.

Every little contribution helps wildlife and remember 100% of your donation will go in full to the project - thank you!

You can also help by becoming a member of DSWF. Click here for more information

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