Page 7 - Animals Asia Review 2014

End Bear Bile Farming

nanning evolving into place of peace for the bears

Our project to transform a former state-owned bear bile farm Food is now exciting, with treats such as fruit hidden in ice

in Nanning, China into our third bear sanctuary is the greatest lollies thanks to donated freezers, and the bear sheds are much
challenge Animals Asia has ever undertaken.
cleaner thanks to donated pressure washers.

Our goal has been to make what will become the Nanning Bear Over 70 of the bears now have the dignity of having their own
Rescue Centre a blueprint for other bile farms in China to get names after being named by caring supporters.
out of the failing bear bile industry.

Initially, medical procedures were conducted under the most
Since day one of what is also the world’s largest bear rescue, basic of “ield” conditions but, in the months since, a functional
we’ve endeavoured to make the bears as comfortable as surgery room has been set up for the vets to perform health-
possible while we convert this place of suffering into a place checks, including extensive dental work for most of the bears.

of peace.
At December 31, 41 bears had received health-checks, with 17
Everything from the bears’ diet, to retraining the ex-farm requiring the removal of their gall bladders. Sadly, we lost seven

workers, to cleaning routines have been reworked to meet the bears, as a result of their treatment on the farm.
exacting standards of Animals Asia, and to promote the best
possible welfare for the bears.
And last, but by no means least, Smudge, the sole bear cub

on the Nanning farm, has delighted us all with her progress.
Your support has meant that the lives of the bears in Nanning Smudge (enjoying a hose shower, below left) is spoiled with
have been changed beyond recognition. Previously skeletal affection and enrichment by her carers, who are doing all they

bears have put on weight and lacklustre coats now shine with can to give this little bear the next best thing to the love and
health due to improved diet and veterinary care.
care that she should be getting from her mother in the wild.

Many of the bears are much less anxious than they were when A huge thank you to our supporters for helping to make a

we took over their care in April 2014, with head banging and difference to all the bears in Nanning. Your generosity is paving
stereotypic head-swaying and pacing now signiicantly reduced, the way for a future without bear bile farming – a future we
as both their care and environment change for the better.
promise we will never stop working towards.

Thanks to the kindness of a UK donor, every bear now has a
paddling pool in which to escape the searing summer heat.

7