(CN) Another forward from AAF

[Guest guest]

< http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/em/fr/-/1/hi/world/asia-

pacific/4608269.stm >

 

Sanctuary calls for end to bear farms

A bear sanctuary in China has called on the Chinese government to

come up with a " strategic plan " to eliminate the practice of bear

farming in the country.

 

Around 7,000 Asiatic black bears are currently being farmed in China

for their bile, which is used in traditional Chinese medicine.

 

But charity Animals Asia - founded by British woman Jill Robinson -

has long campaigned for the practice to end, and in 2000 established

a sanctuary for farmed bears, with government approval, in Chengdu in

Sichuan Province.

 

Now the charity has called on the government to co-ordinate a

permanent end to the farms.

 

" If the government really came out with a strategic plan tomorrow to

end bear farming, we could put an enormous amount of work and effort

into this, " Ms Robinson told BBC World Service's Outlook programme.

 

" We don't have to build sanctuaries all over the place - although it

would be nice - [but] you can at least enrich a bear's life, make a

bear happy, on site.

 

" We could use many of these farms, where they have breeding areas,

to turn these bears out into the enclosures they already have, and

provide far-reaching enrichment programmes, to keep them busy and

happy throughout the rest of their days. "

 

Ending bear farming

 

The official China Wildlife Conservation Association has in the past

said it will " achieve the final objective of terminating bear

farming " , but has admitted there are " many imperfections " .

 

So far, Animals Asia's bear sanctuary has taken in 185 bears.

 

They are housed in eight compounds, one of which is for disabled

bears.

 

Bears progress from the quarantine block to a forested area once

they have recovered from their injuries and are able to socialise

with other bears.

 

Ms Robinson founded Animals Asia in 1993 after observing the

conditions in one bear farm.

 

She said the bears she saw " could hardly move " and were unable to do

anything but put their arms through the bars of their cages.

 

" I knew nothing about the practice of bear farming, " she added.

 

" As I was walking around this horrible basement and looking at this

catalogue of injuries to these animals, I felt a tap on my shoulder.

I turned around and there was a female bear with her paw stretched

thorough the bars of the cage... I took her paw, and instead ripping

my arm from my shoulders, she squeezed it rhythmically.

 

" It was something that I've never forgotten, and really set me on a

path towards ending bear farming in China. "

 

Ms Robinson, who described herself as a " frustrated non-vet, " had

been involved in animal welfare since leaving school.

 

Initially she began trying to help the bears by building

relationships and negotiating with government departments. But in

2000, the Chinese authorities agreed to the establishment of the

Chengdu sanctuary.

 

" We were incredibly lucky, " she added.

 

A philanthropist friend, based in Hong Kong, gave her the money to

set up the sanctuary properly.

 

" He invited me to come along for breakfast, and within half an hour

of meeting him, he said, 'I pledge you your first million dollars.'

 

" I nearly fell off my chair. I'd never been offered anything like

that before. "

 

Funding

 

This money gave Robinson enough funds for the first two years of the

sanctuary.

 

It has expanded dramatically since then and now employs 70 local

workers.

 

One is Wu Guo Jen, a former local furniture maker, who told Outlook

he was " so impressed, I decided to quit my job and start here " .

 

However, the centre needs large amounts of money just to keep going.

 

With wages, veterinary costs, feed and bear care, the monthly cost

of the sanctuary exceeds $60,000; each individual enclosure for 48

bears needs $200,000 to build.

 

And every bear needs surgery to remove the steel or plastic tubes

that had been inserted to remove the bile, meaning they all need at

least one operation.

 

Meanwhile, Ms Robinson has pledged to spend the rest of her life

looking after the bears.

 

" I couldn't think of a nicer place to end my days, " she added.

 

" I almost feel like my life began when I found the bears. We grow as

a foundation and I grow as a person. "

Story from BBC NEWS:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/4608269.stm

 

Published: 2005/06/04 12:26:31 GMT

 

?BBC MMV

 

 

--

Annie Mather

Executive Director, Head of Media

Animals Asia Foundation

Hong Kong

 

ANIMALS ASIA HAS A BRAND NEW WEBSITE!

Find out more about the " China Bear Rescue " and " Friends....or Food? "

http://www.animalsasia.org