Thanks for taking the time to visit my just giving page!

I’d like to share with you some of my reasons for signing up to do this challenge for Animals Asia and most importantly to raise awareness and funding for a charity whose work I think is truly amazing!

AnimalsAsia has three main programmes - 

To end the barbaric practice of bear bile farming in China and Vietnam.

Promote better welfare for dogs,cats and all animals in Asia.

Stop the use if wild and domestic animals held captive for entertainment.

All sponsorship/donations given (however large or small) will be greatly received and will go directly to the charity to help the vital work of Animals Asia. So thank you in advance!

I have covered the full cost of this trip myself - £3300(+ a non refundable deposit). At least 1,700.00 of this cost will go directly to the charity and the rest will cover costs such as flights and accommodation!

The target collectively for the team is to raise £53,000.00 – so hopefully we can excel this!

My intention is to keep everyone updated on my fund raising progress and of course my training (if interested)?

No doubt I shall bore the people who know me with the tribulations of my ‘dodgy’ left knee! So with a combination of osteopathy care, plenty of training,determination and will power - I shall  hopefully make it along the Great wall!

So back to my reasons for doing this trek…

Since an early age I have always been hugely affected by any account of cruelty or injustice towards animals.This has continued to adulthood and the plight and suffering of moon bears has particularly disturbed me!

The longevity that many of these bears are subjected to their suffering is hard to comprehend!

A trip to India has also imbedded a strong memory into my mind. I shall never forget the man who approached the bus window where I was sitting. The animal he was leading was a small brown bear with a crude and heavy ring through his nose. This was attached to an equally nasty looking rusty old chain.
I promptly closed the curtain to my window, as did my fellow travellers to theirs. The man had tried to get our attention and seemed determined that the ‘tourists’ would enjoy watching a bear perform! Quickly he got the message that this was not the case! And the people he had hoped to entertain were actually quite horrified!

Watching this bear being led away with his head to the ground was heartbreaking, as I have never witnessed an animal look so broken!

We think of a bear as strong and powerful so to take away it’s freedom and liberty to me seems shameful!

This unfortunately is why bear bile is considered such a powerful tonic by some - the belief is that it will enhance and strengthen the individual.

Learning some of the stories of bears rescued in the Zarnesti Sanctuary in Romania has also had a profound effect on me.

Many years ago I travelled to Romania for a walking holiday and visited this very beautiful sanctuary.

Again the stories of these rescued bears horrified me!

I heard accounts of bears being caged in shocking conditions when they were ‘not working’. Others had been made to perform in circuses and one account of a bear being blinded by acid – because he needed to be tamed…….

It was after this trip that I later learned about the fantastic work of Animals Asia.

So here’s some background on the charity itself:

Founded by Gill Robertson CEO - this inspirational woman made a commitment to challenge the bile farming industry and work to end this barbaric practice.
To have encountered a bear farm first hand and to hold the gentle paw that reached out to her from it’s prison would change everything…

Knowing that ‘to do nothing would be unthinkable’ she got together with friends around her kitchen table and ideas for the charity were formed.

Animals Asia began its relentless work in the late 1990’s to fight for an end to the horrific trade of bile extraction for use in traditional Chinese medicine.

Often captured from snares by  poachers these bears can be disfigured for life. This however is just the beginning…

Mainly moon bears are used for their bile. However sun bears and brown bears are also captured. These bears can be subjected up to 30 years of suffering in a cage - the average life span of a bear. These spaces are often so small that bears are unable to stand up or move around.

Many often die before their intended lifespan this due to mental stress and a multitude of physical problems caused by confinement, disease and starvation.
It is also the belief that starvation creates a better supply of bile production from the gall bladder.

Bears are subjected to ‘crush cages’ when being ‘milked for their bile’ others may be fitted with heavy metal jackets. From this a catheter
is inserted and the bile is then extracted.

Wounds are left open and often never heal!

But there is hope thanks to AnimalsAsia!

Through determination the charity has begun many rescue programs to save bears incarcerated throughout China and Vietnam.

The charity has opened sanctuaries in both of these countries and many hundreds of traumatised bears are now in safety.

They are the lucky ones but unfortunately many thousands are still suffering and need our help!

Importantly the charity’s ethos is to promote a good working
relationship with the Chinese government and together work to find alternatives and solutions to this industry. The intention is not to criticise another culture and it’s values but to educate and show that alternatives to cruelty are available.

Bile production is not a necessity as synthetic alternatives are available however attitudes are changing through educational programmes and new generations.

Of course there is still a long way to go!

Animals Asia is also working to promote awareness of the suffering of other animals in Asian countries.

Programmes are in place to educate and show that dogs and cats can offer great benefit as companion animals and that they do not need to
be abused.

Many of these animals are often overlooked and neglected on the streets. Stray dogs and cats are often vulnerable to abuse from cruel practices such as unlicensed culling programmes.

The Yulin dog meat festival has also been highly publicised.

Unfortunately dogs and cats are also being illegally stolen from loving owners in a demand for their meat in certain provinces where this festival is held.

This of course poses many ethical questions. And again is not to criticise a culture or a country for it’s customs and traditions and equally not to dictate what a person chooses to eat!

The issue is however the process and the cruelty involved –
dogs are packed into tiny cages often awaiting their death for hours. These animals when selected are boiled alive for the belief that the adrenalin will make the meat taste better an idea that I think most people will struggle with….

Animals Asia is also working to develop a change in attitude towards animals kept in captivity. This involves education with regards to zoos
and also animals used in performance.

I think globally we are all becoming aware of what is happening but there is still a long way to go….

To me AnimalsAsia is the embodiment of compassion and
respect. Caring for the animal kingdom and humankind alike.

This is why I have chosen to support this charity and it’s fantastic work!

Thank you again for taking the time to read this!

Traci xx

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