News from IFAW China

[Guest guest]

??/Jeff He IFAW?? Tel: 86-10-64643599 or Fax: 86-10-64643522 jhe

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

 

 

IFAW Leads China NGO Stride to Asia

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

China local NGOs and animal rescue individuals get together to receive an

honorable award from 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 rescue efforts of the local NGO during the SARS

epidemic and to encourage their work to a higher international level.

" 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.

Zhang Luping has been engaged in companion animal for about 15 years and her

center now homes more than 450 animals. 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

Songjie, rescued 607 raptors in the short 20 months since BRRC's

establishment. And Mr. Qu, the most mentioning worth figure, 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 and tourists hiring his pedalos that animal and people should

live in peace. 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 of Shichahai Research Institute, said, " it is

very important that IFAW use wild duck island as a animal welfare education

base. " He also offered space for pro bono based advertisements made by IFAW

for free.

Dr. Zhang said, " 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 highly international standard. 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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The International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW -- <a

href= " http://www.ifaw.org " >www.ifaw.org</a>) works to improve the welfare of

wild and domestic animals throughout the world by reducing commercial

exploitation of animals, protecting wildlife habitats, and assisting animals in

distress. IFAW seeks to motivate the public to prevent cruelty to animals and to

promote animal welfare and conservation policies that advance the well-being of

both animals and people.

 

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