Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page.

In October 2016, I’ll be taking part in Animals Asia’s China Challenge, a 5-day trek along a remote section of the Great Wall of China from Gubeikou to Simatai, to raise much-needed funds to support their work in China and Vietnam.

I’ll then spend 2 days at their China Bear Rescue Centre in Chengdu with Animals Asia founder, Jill Robinson to learn more about their work and the challenges they face as they strive to end the barbaric bear bile trade and improve the welfare of animals in both countries.

Please note: All funds donated will go direct to Animals Asia. I am paying all costs associated with the trip myself so please rest assured you are not subsidising my trip in any way.

For those of you not already familiar with the work of this amazing organisation, Animals Asia's mission is to end the farming of bears for bile in China and Vietnam, and provide sanctuary to bears rescued from bile farms; end the suffering of wild animals in captivity; and ensure the humane treatment of dogs and cats.

Working to end the barbaric bear bile trade:

Today, there are an estimated 10,000 bears kept on bile farms in China, and, according to official figures, about 1,200 suffering the same fate in Vietnam. 

The bears have their bile extracted on a regular basis for use as a health tonic in the practice of Traditional Chinese Medicine. Bile is extracted using various painful, invasive techniques, all of which cause massive infection in the bears. This cruel practice continues despite the availability of a large number of effective and affordable herbal and synthetic alternatives.

Most farmed bears are kept permanently in cages sometimes so small that they are unable to turn around or stand on all fours. Some bears are caged as cubs and never released with many kept caged for up to 30 years. Most farmed bears are starved and dehydrated, and suffer from multiple diseases and malignant tumours that ultimately kill them.

To date, Animals Asia has rescued almost 600 bears from the bile industry, caring for them at their award-winning sanctuaries in China and Vietnam. Here, the bears are rehabilitated and provided ongoing care.

In addition to rescuing bears and providing them with a lifetime of care, Animals Asia works actively to reduce demand for bile by engaging with the traditional medicine community and other users to promote herbal and synthetic alternatives, runs extensive public awareness campaigns in China and Vietnam to highlight the cruelty of the industry, and engages with government authorities and policy-makers in both countries to build support for an end to bear bile farming.

To find out more, copy the following URL into your browser:

https://youtu.be/PENl5091uAM

Working to end abusive animal practices in zoos and safari parks in Asia: 

Animals Asia conducts investigations at zoos and safari parks across China and Vietnam to identify animal welfare concerns and reports them to the management of the facilities and to government authorities. Evidence collected during investigations is used to improve animal management, increase awareness of the welfare needs of captive animals, and influence positive regulatory change.

Working to improve the welfare of dogs and cats:

Animals Asia is working to end the trade in dogs and cats for food in China and Vietnam, lobbies to improve the welfare of companion animals, promotes humane population management and disease-control measures, and campaigns to prevent the cross-border export of "meat dogs" in Asia.

Thank you so much for sticking with me. I hope you'll consider supporting me in my fundraising efforts – no amount is too small.

On behalf of the bears, the dogs and the cats, and all the other animals too, thank you!

Cheers, Craig

Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving – they’ll never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, they’ll send your money directly to Animals Asia. It’s the most efficient way to donate – saving time and cutting costs for the organisation you've chosen to support.