News from IFAW

[Guest guest]

Jennifer Ferguson-Mitchell IFAW US Tel: 1-(508)-7442076 jfm

 

 

IFAW Leads China Chinese Animal NGOs Stride to Asia, to the World

 

(Sep 1, 2003 Beijing) By the lakeside of the famous Beijing Houhai Park,

several China Several Chinese local NGOs and animal rescue individuals get

together to today received an honorable honorary awards from the

International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) for their outstanding work to

save animals and promote animal welfare policy in the country. The " IFAW

2003 Animal Champion Award " is set up this year to recognize the special

animal rescue efforts of by the local NGOs and individuals during the SARS

SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome) epidemic and to encourage higher

international standards in animal rescue, legislation and law enforcement.

their work to a higher international level.

 

At the scenic Houhai Park, Director of Beijing Man and Animal Environment

Education Center (BMAEEC), Zhang Luping, Director of Beijing Raptor Rescue

Center (BRRC), Professor Song Jie, Law specialist from China University of

Science and Technology, Professor Song Wei and individual rescuer Mr. Qu

Xisheng each received a Certificate of Acknowledgment from the International

Fund for Animal Welfare China Director Dr. Aster Zhang Li, for their

outstanding contribution to animal welfare in the area of rescue,

legislation, education and enforcement. On September 3rd, some of the award

recipients will also represent Mainland Chinese animal welfare NGOs to

attend the Asians for Animals Conference in Hong Kong as part of the IFAW

delegation.

 

" These individuals have devoted their lives to the promotion of animal

welfare in China, often under extremely difficult circumstances,

technically, politically and financially " Said Dr. Zhang. " IFAW has

committed to supporting these local NGOs since the early 1990s. It is an

honor to work with them together to promote animal welfare in China and to

present them to the international animal welfare community as an example

that compassion for animals is universal.

" IFAW has been committed to the economic, technical and information support

to these local NGOs. As it is known to all, that various difficulties still

exist for China NGOs to save animals due to an immature NGO management

system and many things have to be learnt for the development of local NGOs.

Despite all current disadvantageous conditions, the awarded individuals that

leads the organizations have invest greatly with their emotions and

enthusiasm in addition to their social responsibility to the help to

animals. With their extraordinary dedication, the way to realize animal

welfare is shortened. The rescue standard and facility condition is reaching

or even surpassing international standard with IFAW's support " , said IFAW

country director Dr. Aster Zhang Li. Beijing Man and Animal Environment

Education Center (BMAEEC) director Zhang Luping, Beijing Raptor Rescue

Center (BRRC) director Professor Songjie, animal welfare legislation

specialist professor Song Wei and individual rescuer Mr. Qu Xisheng who

keeps building a floating island for wild duck on his own funding for three

years win the award.

BMAEEC Director Zhang Luping has been engaged in companion animal rescue for

about 15 years and her center now homes more than 450 400 animals dogs and

cats, many abandoned by ignorant and irresponsible pet owners during the

SARS epidemic, when they wrongfully believed that SARS was transmittable by

pets. Even when Xiaotangshang is highly profiled during SARS, she worked

even harder to guarantee the survival hundreds of lives. She rescued 153

animals in the wake of the epidemic and helped a lot in disperse people's

scare towards pet animals

 

Professor Song Jie, Director of the IFAW sponsored Beijing Raptor Rescue

Center on the campus of the Beijing Normal University has rescued 607

raptors in the short 20 months since BRRC's its establishment. It is the one

and only Center of Excellence for birds of prey rescue in China.

 

Mr. Qu Xisheng, And Mr. Qu, the most mentioning worth figure,has built an

island home for more than 100 ducks in Houhai Park for the last three years.

has kept building and enlarging the island home for more than 100 wild ducks

in the past three years. He takes every possible opportunity to advocate to

his neighborhood the public his belief that and tourists hiring his pedalos

that animal and people should live in peace harmony and protect the well

being of the ducks in the lake. His effort has resulted in the expansion of

the island, preservation of the duck nests, the growth of the duck family,

and most importantly the public awareness about the welfare of the wild

ducks.

As the expansion of his island from a small bamboo raft to a small decorated

islands with wood nest and little houses for the wild ducks, the wild duck

family is getting bigger and so is the public awareness about care on

animals.

Zhao Zhongqing, the principal Director of Shichahai Research Institute said,

" It is very important that IFAW use wild duck island as a animal welfare

education base. " He also offered IFAW pro bono education display space at

the dock to the lake. "

 

for pro bono based advertisements made by IFAW for free.

Dr. Aster Zhang Li said, " The atmosphere for animal welfare NGOs to operate

in China is ever improving, which is beneficial for public outreach. it is

pleasant to see that both system and public environment is improving for

NGOs in China, which makes animal welfare conception reach to as many time

people. Organizations supported by IFAW such as BMAEEC and BRRC are unique

and have highly international standards. It is our goal to make sure they

adhere to the highest animal welfare standards, whether in rescue,

rehabilitation and care. "

.. They and other animal groups will join IFAW delegation to Asians for

animals forum to display themselves and communicate with others for more

experiences and make themselves the flagships in China and in Asia. "

-End

 

 

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2003?9?1? 0:29

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Digest Number 913

 

 

 

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