Like any community, Animals Asia’s bear sanctuaries have elders – bears getting on in years, who need a little bit more care and consideration but are well-respected amongst their peers.

These sanctuary elders are some of our most-loved bears – and the extra care they require is a pleasure to provide for their carers.

As some of our best-known and best-loved bears – bears like Jasper, Barri, Bronwyn and Xie Sheung, the bear on our logo – reach their “golden age”, Animals Asia is even more committed to making every day special. These years should be their retirement – but first they need a pension plan. 

In China, a significant amount of the overall workload targets these elder bears, assessing the health and needs of each bear individually. Whether this means modified enrichment plans, low beds and baskets for easy access or just plenty of TLC, Animals Asia is keeping these senior bears in mind. 

This Christmas, our UK Patron Virginia McKenna OBE – star of the film “Born Free”, which inspired Animals Asia founder Jill Robinson’s earliest dreams of wanting to help animals – is partnering with Animals Asia to raise awareness of the needs of these “retired” bears, who have all been rescued from bile farms.

Together, they want to make this Christmas special for all our bears in their twilight years.

Jill said: 

“Bears like Barri, Xie Sheung, Blue, Pippin, Charly, BeBe, Hong and all the rest are the reason why we do the work we do. Some of them have been with us since our early days, others we’ve rescued from a hellish lifetime of bile farm imprisonment – but all of them are part of the Animals Asia family.

“We know that one day they won’t be with us, and that’s why we’re doubly committed to treasuring each day they have left.”

Virginia said:

“Animals Asia’s moon bears have never known about Christmas. Until they were mercifully rescued from their terrible caged years they knew no kindness, no joy – only pain and fear.

“But we know about Christmas and the spirit of generosity and kindness that fills our hearts. I hope that this year we can include these sweet-natured creatures on our ‘giving list’.

“We need and expect nothing in return. It is enough to know that thanks to Animals Asia the bears are cared for, cherished and loved. And to know we have helped, even a little, is all that matters.”

There remain over 10,000 bears on bile farms in China – facing painful daily extractions, with their bile being used for traditional medicine.

Animals Asia has rescued over 570 bears from the bile industry and continues to care for almost 400 bears in sanctuaries in China and Vietnam.

To help with the care of our older bears, please give here: https://www.animalsasia.org/uk/donate/befriend-a-bear.html

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