FORWARDED from China Bear Rescue

[Guest guest]

From Jill Robinson, Founder & CEO, Animals Asia Foundation

http://www.animalsasia.org

 

Dear Friends of Animals Asia,

 

Since our last letter in December, it is with some relief and growing

optimism to report that the China Bear Rescue has been going extraordinarily

well. We are just on the point of updating our website with the latest

information but, for those who don't have access to the internet, we thought

it might be helpful to send out a letter to all supporters who have so

generously supported this unique and heartwarming campaign.

 

As we continue with the rescue, each day brings its share of highs and lows.

Recently, as we tried to cut bear number 50 out of her cage, we were

sickened to discover that the bars had been actually welded together by

someone who had never anticipated her release. The atmosphere which had

previously been full of hope with our first landmark figure - 10% of the

total of 500 bears we would save - suddenly turned sour. After a nail

biting 10 minutes using an industrial cutter, the gate fell open and we

pulled a gently sleeping bear into the fresh air for the first time in her

life.

 

This beautiful bear has a lifetime of physical and mental problems to

overcome; including a rusting metal catheter in her stomach and teeth broken

and worn as a result of frustrated " bar biting " and paws with claws that had

grown into the soft pad tissue. Hair loss on her head shows the trauma she

experienced during each waking hour and the repetitive head banging which

would have painfully relieved some of her boredom. During the health

check, she had blood taken, teeth scaled, ears cleaned, nails cut and woke

up in a roomy recovery cage to stretch for the first time in her life. Now

prioritised into the queue for surgery, she is now adapting to space which

allows her to stand, groom and move muscles which have shriveled and

atrophied during her years of confinement on a farm.

 

She is just one example of so many who tell the truth of the misery behind

bear farming. Tragically, " Mona " and " Hairy Mary " were not so lucky and

both died from peritonitis (inflammation caused by the seeping of bile into

the abdomen) as a result of the original surgery to tap their bile. As we

sadly buried them with a cross on their graves we knew that they hadn't died

in vain and that their tragic story would be told again and again. Bear

farming, catheter implantation, the new " free dripping " technique (which

requires no catheter) - all are unconscionable in the face of so many freely

available alternatives to bear bile.

 

Despite the stark reality of the work ahead, we remain optimistic that, for

the bears who recover, their lives will be changed beyond all recognition.

 

With 25 catheter removal surgeries complete, the sanctuary is growing full

of recovering bears. Each day, we encourage bears now in dens to stretch up

on depleted hind legs for treats such as strawberry jam and honey (what

else!), whilst gradually being integrated with each other in groups ranging

from disabled cubs, to small declawed females, to those which are equally

matched in size. Gentle two-legged " Freedom " is now integrated in a den and

free to wander on grass with our two beautiful cubs and an old, old lady

called " Asia " . Just recently, " Kalina " joined the team and we watched

with teary eyes as they climbed up together and shared the hanging basket

beds which give them much needed security and warmth.

 

As we finally let them outside into the sunshine and on to grass, they at

first tread gingerly, preferring the security of cement underfoot. But

pretty soon, they are playing tag with each other, climbing up onto

playground apparatus and stretching to eat treats which have been stuffed

into vertical hanging logs.

 

" Double Happiness " recently frolicked with " Andrew " , Ginny " and " Melody "

and then burst into her first full length sprint in the sunshine; the

comparison between this and some twenty years in a cage could not have been

more extreme!

 

It can only get better.....please tell your family, friends and colleagues

that the China Bear Rescue is making a difference and ask them to support

these bears who so desperately need their help.

 

More on the rescue soon...

Jill.