I'm raising much needed funds for Animals Asia to assist them with the vital work they do in trying to make the horrible practice of bear farming a thing of the past!

The China Moon Bear Challenge aims to raise funds to continue the rescue and rehabilitation of Moon Bears from the extremely cruel practice of bear bile farming in China, and bring them to the sanctuary in Chengdu, Sichuan Province to live out their lives freely in a beautiful bamboo forest without pain or fear.

In the bile farms, the bears experience unimaginable horror by spending all day, every day, in tight, coffin-sized cages for as long as 25 years. They are milked daily (usually twice) for their bile in an excruciatingly painful process through crude (often filthy) implanted catheters and are sometimes  fitted with an iron corset to hold the catheters in place.

The bears moan and writhe in pain as the bile drains from their bodies. Sometimes the farmers mutilate the bears by breaking their teeth or pulling out their claws (sometimes removing entire digits) so that they can approach them without being injured. 

Some cages have a collapsible top that can "crush" the bear and immobilise it better during the process. The bears are denied adequate water and food as this produces more bile.

The bile is used in traditional Chinese medicine, even though there are more than 50 cheap and effective herbal and synthetic alternatives readily available.

In 2000, after years of lobbying and negotiating, Animals Asia signed a landmark agreement with the Chinese authorities to rescue 500 Moon Bears and work towards ending the barbaric practice of bear bile farming.

Officially there are about 7000 bears  in bile farms in China, but Animals Asia fear there could be as many as 10,000. 

As a participant of the Moon Bear Rescue Challenge for Animals Asia, I am raising vitally required funds used for the medical attention and rehousing of the rescued Moon Bears, and I will be visiting the Moon Bear sanctuary in China in May 2012. 

Please help me make a difference.

I have been a sponsor of Animals Asia since they first started back in 1998 and it has been on my "Bucket List" to visit the bears and see the great work that has been achieved in Asia first hand - and now my chance has come!

I am so thrilled that I will be making such a difference in addition in seeing them in person.

I would be most grateful if you would support me and Animals Asia by clicking on the Donate Now button. All donatations over $2 are tax deductible and very much appreciated. Every little bit counts!

Please click on Donate Now to make a secure online donation. 

If you would like more information or to talk to me personally, please send me an email: kerrri@domesticdownsizing.com.au

Thank you so much for your support!

Kerri

PS - if you would like to see where I will be travelling to, take a look at this video where the founder of Animals Asia Jill Robinson takes you on a tour of the China Moon Bear Rescue Centre in China: 

http://youtu.be/gF9zVU7Gknk