China's Moon Bear Gets Help in Vermont from Animals Asia

Author: Megan O'Keefe

Vermont's lengthening list of international non-profit groups has recently grown to include Animals Asia, an organization that spans across the globe, now reaching from Burlington, Vt., to the provinces of China. Andi Mowrer, the U.S. representative for Animals Asia, recently set her home base in Burlington, and is now raising awareness about the organization and animal abuses in Asia across Vermont. Despite its rural reputation, Mowrer called Vermont "an unbelievable place for international non-profits," adding, "Vermont is really an outward looking state." A recent visit to the Ilsley Library brought Mowrer's cause to Middlebury. Similar presentations in schools throughout the state are making many Vermonters suddenly aware of a campaign that combats a problem that many people did not know exists.
Animals Asia was founded in 1993 by Jill Robinson shortly after she learned about the prevalence of animal rights abuses in China and throughout Asia. Robinson's work began as a crusade to save Asiatic Black Bears, but quickly developed into a broader campaign. Robinson immediately began building relationships with government departments and wildlife groups in China in a resolute effort to bring an end to Asiatic Black Bear farming.
In farms across China, nearly 7,000 Asiatic Black Bears, known more commonly as Moon Bears because of the golden crescents on their chests, have been imprisoned in tiny metal cages no bigger than their bodies. These bears are confined in factory farms that milk bears daily for their bile using rusting metal catheters implanted deep in their gallbladders. Bear bile has been used in traditional oriental medicine for 3,000 years, but the practice of bear farming was introduced in the 1980s. Bears continue to be hunted and trapped for their bile, despite the fact that they are listed under Appendix I - the most critical category - on the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species list. Additionally, Chinese doctors now agree that bear bile can be medically replaced by herbal and synthetic alternatives, though traders have continued to push bile products on the Chinese public due to the possibility of high profits.
Animals Asia reached a crucial goal in July 2000 when the group struck a "landmark" agreement with the China Wildlife Conservation Association and the Sichuan Forestry Department. The agreement, sanctioned by the Central Government Department of Beijing, is the first pact between the Chinese government and an outside animal welfare organization. Mowrer said, "Our agreement with the Chinese government is to rescue 500 bears from the worst farms in Sichuan Province and ultimately rescue the remaining 6,500 throughout the country." Andy, a bear with only three legs, is one of hundreds of bears who lost his limbs when he was illegally trapped in the wild. There are currently 84 bears living at the Animals Asia sanctuary. "These first 84 bears," said Mowrer, "are the ambassadors ... seeing the horrors they endured and then witnessing their unbelievably forgiving nature and their resiliency inspires us all to know we must and can rescue the remaining bears."
When bears arrive at the facility they are often extremely thin, suffering from infection and psychologically traumatized by years in confined captivity. Immediate veterinary attention is combined with extensive surgery to remove the bears' catheters and to mend sliced paws, infected teeth and injuries inflicted by their cage bars. Many of the bears have head wounds that, according to Animals Asia, "indicate the mental trauma they have endured over the years as they repeatedly bang their heads against the bars in a frantic attempt to stimulate their intelligent minds." Some bears in critical condition have undergone surgeries lasting as long as eight hours.
Once rescued, the bears can never be released into the wild. Many are permanently disabled or defenseless, and others were bred in captivity or captured as cubs and "have not learned the necessary survival skills from their mothers," but enjoy enormous freedom and interaction with other bears, often for the first time in their lives. While bears now undergo physiotherapy in large cages, they will soon be released into a protected bamboo sanctuary currently under construction by Animals Asia.
According to Animals Asia literature, "As a part of the July 2000 Agreement, Animals Asia has agreed to pay a level of compensation to the farmer to ensure that none of the bears are slaughtered for their parts and to help them move into alternative area of employment." The Sichuan Governments have given the organization access to all bear farm licenses and a country-wide policy in China now forbids issuing new bear farm licenses.
In addition to the China Bear rescue, Animals Asia is also making efforts to protect dogs and cats throughout Asia. "The live animal markets in China include hundreds of dogs and cats, crammed into cages, then tortured before being killed, in the belief that this will make them taste better," said Mowrer. Animals Asia has instituted a program of 300 volunteers who work across six Asian countries to bring dogs into schools, businesses, nursing homes and hospitals and build awareness that dogs are "wonderful companions."
While Animals Asia has enjoyed exceptional success, its current achievements are only the beginning of an ongoing process. Mowrer continues to avidly spread the word about Animals Asia's cause, networking with others, raising funds needed to continue the organization's work and bringing a new awareness to Vermont.
More information about Animals Asia may be obtained on animalsasia.org.