FWD: (CN) AAF improves animal welfare

[Guest guest]

Herewith an article on the China Bear Rescue that appeared in the

Mainland Chinese Magazine " Windows of the South " just recently.

" Windows of the South " is widely read and is considered to be

something akin to " Time " magazine, China style.

 

Best wishes,

Annie

--

Annie Mather

Media Director

Animals Asia Foundation

Hong Kong

 

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

Animals Asia Foundation website at:

http://www.animalsasia.orgAnnual review of public welfare 2003

 

 

" Windows of the South "

 

12/15/03

 

Animals Asia Foundation's China Bear Rescue is a shining example of

environmental conservation campaigns over recent years; it is also a role

model for animal welfare education in China to date.

It was in 1993, during a visit to a Chinese bear farm, that Jill Robinson

(the founder of AAF) discovered the Asiatic black bears and the pain they

are suffering from being milked for their bile on a daily basis. There and

then she determined to fight for their rights. In July 2000, AAF, the China

Wildlife Conservation Association in Beijing and the Sichuan Forestry

Department joined together to sign an historic agreement - to free 500 black

bears from the worst farms. All parties also agreed on the goal to

ultimately end bear farming in China. With the official start of China Bear

Rescue in 2000, 63 farmed bears were freed and 27 bear farms were closed

down forever. Bear farmers were financially compensated. Three years on, AAF

has rescued more than 100 bears.

Asiatic black bears are also known as Moon Bears due to the golden, crescent

shaped fur around their necks.

There are approximately 25,000 in the world and Moon Bears are listed under

the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species as an Appendix I

species, although in China they are classified as a second grade protected

species. This endangered species is living a life of torture, trapped in

tiny cages and milked for their bile on a daily basis. If it were not for

the assertive and persistent efforts of China Bear Rescue, most people would

not even be aware of the cruelty in bear farms and the pain these bears go

through and they would not be rethinking humans' cruelty to animals.

If you are wondering how China Bear Rescue is different to other animal

welfare projects, it is their self-assurance and confidence in what they are

doing, together with the educational message they are spreading.

The AAF team has an unshakeable belief in their work, animal welfare and

protection. AAF has a very clear objective in obtaining government

cooperation. They are unlike other animal welfare organisations that are

hesitant and unconfident in their beliefs, questioning themselves even as

they lead animal rights campaigns.

It is AAF's confidence that makes others believe in them. As AAF starts to

build a China Bear Rescue Centre, the Sichuan Forestry Department has

stopped issuing new licenses for bear farms and has already closed some. The

department has even offered a piece of land in the wildlife reservation zone

for the Moon Bear Rescue Centre. When we look at the beginning of China Bear

Rescue, most people, even IFAW (International Fund for Animal Welfare,) did

not think this was a long-term solution for saving bears in such bad

conditions. They felt that they could do nothing until the Chinese

government made milking Asiatic Black Bears for their bile illegal. They saw

China Bear Rescue as simply putting a band-aid on the problem.

The " unfeasible " China Bear Rescue has, however, grabbed attention all over

the world. Their work should inspire those of us who always think but never

take action.

We should clarify that our support and recommendation of AAF is based on

their belief that animals deserve respect in their own right and that no

animal is the property of humans; that animal welfare is in fact a vital

part of public and social welfare, even if it is a challenge to educate

people to think in this way.