(CN) Five Aged Bears Moved to Chengdu

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http://www.reuters.com/article/pressRelease/idUS106070+19-Oct-2009+PRN20091019

 

Five Aged Bears Moved to Chengdu for a Better Senior Life

Mon Oct 19, 2009

 

GUANGZHOU, China, Oct. 19 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Following several weeks

of careful preparations, the five moon bears who have been living at the

International Fund for Animal Welfare's (IFAW - www.ifaw.org) Panyu Bear

Sanctuary (PBS) for the past 13 years set off on a long journey today to

their

new home at the Moon Bear Rescue Centre (MBRC) in Chengdu, Sichuan Province.

Moon bears are also known as Asiatic black bears, and are an endangered

species. The MBRC was established by Animals Asia Foundation

(www.animalsasia.org.cn) in 2000, and currently cares for over 170 bears

rescued from China's bear bile farms.

 

Since 1993, IFAW and Jill Robinson, who later founded Animals Asia, have

drawn

attention to the cruelty of bear bile farms. In 1996, with the cooperation

of

the Guangdong Provincial Forestry Department, IFAW rescued 9 bears from an

illegal bear bile farm in which the bears lived under horrible conditions,

and

effectively closed the operation. This milestone event began China's black

bear rescue and bear anti-cruelty campaign. That same year, the Panyu Bear

Sanctuary was established. In 2000, Animals Asia established the MBRC near

Chengdu, which to date has rescued 260 bears.

 

IFAW regional Asia director Grace Gabriel said, " I can say in full

confidence

that in the past 13 years, we have provided the best possible care for the

bears that were previously abused. Our pursuit for their high standard of

care

has not diminished. As the bears become old, they need specialized geriatric

care and a larger and more stable social structure to guarantee their

physical

and psychological health. The MBRC provides the optimal environment for

these

bears. "

 

To ensure the safety of the bears on their 1,000-km road trip, the bear

veterinary and husbandry teams have ensured that the bears are in optimal

physical condition, and have begun adaptive training for transportation.

Jill

Robinson, Founder and CEO of Animals Asia, said, " Together, Animals Asia and

IFAW have compiled a highly qualified team to care for the bears en route.

To

help these highly sensitive and intelligent animals to adapt to their new

home

at our rescue centre, their favorite caretaker will keep the bears company

on

the road and will stay for them through their adaptation period. "

 

Jill warmly welcomed these old friends to their new, large family. She said,

" Both IFAW and Animals Asia are committed to providing the best care of

these

formerly abused animals. I am certain that they will enjoy their new home

and

new friends. "

 

At 10 am (October 18), the bears will be loaded onto a truck, secure in

their

roomy cages with plenty of fresh straw and ventilation. They will be

adjacent

to one other and will be able to see and smell and talk to each other so

that

they will know that they aren't going anywhere without their best friends.

The

truck will be followed by a car carrying the husbandry and veterinary staff.

The caravan will travel in the night and early morning to avoid the heat and

traffic of the day, and after 48 hours the bears will arrive at Animals

Asia's

rescue centre. Along the road, the team will choose appropriate times and

places to stop to check on the bears, replenish food and water and cool them

as needed.

 

Grace Gabriel said that although the bears would no longer be at PBS, IFAW's

anti-cruelty campaign would not stop. Both Jill and Grace agreed that IFAW

and

Animals Asia were both firmly committed to advancing policy and legislation

through scientific research and public education to end the bear bile

industry

and to end all animal abuse in China.

 

Grace Gabriel emphasizes that " the final choice for wildlife conservation

and

ending animal cruelty is in the hands of each consumer. To buy is to kill

and

to support cruelty. So always say 'NO' to wildlife products. "

 

About the International Fund for Animal Welfare

As the world's leading animal welfare organization, IFAW works from its

global

headquarters in the United States and 16 country offices to improve the

welfare of wild and domestic animals by reducing the commercial exploitation

of animals, protecting wildlife habitats, and assisting animals in distress.

With projects in more than 40 countries, IFAW works both on the ground and

in

the halls of government to safeguard wild and domestic animals and 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. For more information visit: www.ifaw.org

 

About Animals Asia Foundation

Animals Asia Foundation is a Hong Kong-headquartered charity, which was

founded in 1998 by Jill Robinson MBE. The foundation works with local

authorities and communities to end cruelty and foster respect for animals

across Asia. Through its flagship campaign, the Moon Bear Rescue, the

foundation is saving hundreds of suffering, endangered bears from cruel bile

farms and bringing them to its sanctuaries in China and Vietnam. Animals

Asia

is working with the governments of these two countries towards the goal of

ending bear bile farming forever. www.animalsasia.org

 

SOURCE International Fund for Animal Welfare

 

Michael Booth of the International Fund for Animal Welfare, +1-508-744-2076,

mbooth

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