(CN) Asia's largest black bear rescue center saves 100 black bears

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http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2003-11/02/content_1155007.htm

www.chinaview.cn 2003-11-02 08:27:24

 

CHENGDU, Nov. 30 (Xinhuanet) -- Asia's largest black bear rescue center in

southwest China's Sichuan Province has saved over 100 black bears from bear

farming, according to Jill Robinson, founder of the Animals Asia Foundation

(AAF).

 

The black bear rescue center, financed by the AAF, has been cooperated with

local governments to work towards the future elimination of bear farming in

China and the promotion of herbal alternatives to bear bile.

 

The black bear rescue center was built last December in Longqiao Township in

Chengdu City, capital of Sichuan Province, and can accommodate 150 black

bears in an area of some 11 hectares.

 

After careful medical treatment, the rescued bears have recovered and are

living in the center.

 

Bear bile has been used in traditional Chinese medicines for over 3,000

years and some impoverished farmers raise bears for their bile.

 

In 2000, the AAF, the China Wildlife Conservation Association and the

Sichuan Provincial Forestry Department launched a campaign to save black

bears.

 

The campaign aims to rescue 500 black bears from the bear farms within five

years in Sichuan Province and promote the action across the nation in ten

years to ultimately eliminate bear farming, Robinson said.

 

China's bear farms have been reduced to 30 from the original 100, with the

number of bears in the [sichuan] farms cut to less than 2,000 from about

3,000, when the campaign started, said Chen Runsheng, secretary-general of

the China Wildlife Conservation Association. End item

 

Find out more about the historic China Bear Rescue by visiting the Animals

Asia Foundation website at:

http://www.animalsasia.org