Protect the future for bears

I became interested in saving bears when I went to China as part of a fundraising tour which included visiting Chengdu and Animals Asia's bear sanctuary.

Visiting the sanctuary and meeting Jill was such an eye-opener, it really affected me. I cried a lot when seeing the cages that the bears had been kept in on bile farms. Walking round the sanctuary and seeing the bears so happy, I decided to become a Bear Guardian to a lovely bear who I named Thomas after our family name. It’s a wonderful gift for my family and they love to see Thomas' photos and hear how he is doing. My family knows that they are helping to save these beautiful creatures from a life of hell. It's one of the best things we have done and continue to do.

While it was an honor to become the Bear Guardian of two beautiful rescued bears, the real honor has been to be a part of Animals Asia, a wonderful and effective organization.

Working in the animal protection movement for more than 40 years, from grassroots to CEO, I am adept at recognizing organizations that spend their money on strategic work that actually realizes their mission, even in the most difficult of circumstances. To have accomplished so much for the bears in such dire circumstances once condoned by the cultures within which they lived is beyond admirable.

When I became a Bear Guardian, I knew straightaway which beautiful names I would choose.

I chose "Shima", after my rescued Akita. She was a big, black, gentle bear of a girl with white stocking feet. In Japanese, Shima means “island”, and in Persian, “mother”. And I chose "Kibou" after my rescued Shiba, who came into my life 10 years after Shima passed. Kibou, in Japanese, means “hope”.

Naming ceremonies for human children are a part of every religion and varies within every culture. Yet, the significance remains the same: to honor and welcome that being into the world within which they will live. It takes time and thought to choose the right name as we recognize the significance of carrying that name throughout life.

Animals must have, as T.S. Eliot notes, “the deep and inscrutable” name they call themselves which we will never know but will still silently honor. Unable to know that name, we chose a name for them. Animals used and abused in industries and practices to serve humans are rarely if ever named. To do so would make them too real and harder to exploit. They are kept nameless for a reason.

But, set free from their cages and arriving in this holy place called sanctuary, demands that they now have the dignity of a name, even if human-given. By naming the bears we say: “I see you. I know you. You and only you.”

In Shima and Kibou I witness the personification of this island of hope, of this once dream and now reality at Animals Asia.

Theodora Capaldo, Ed.D.
Licensed psychologist
Trustee, the American Fund for Alternatives to Animal Research
President Emeritus, New England Anti-Vivisection Society and
Psychologist for the Ethical Treatment of Animals.

*Photo courtesy of Joanne McArthur

Through the charitable donations given by the Green Dragon Fund I have been extraordinarily fortunate to become closely associated with Animals Asia and Jill Robinson. And in particular with the real achievements emanating from setting up the first bear sanctuary at Tam Dao in 2008, as a first step towards achieving the overall strategic objective of ending the cruel practice of bear bile farming in Vietnam.

In 2012 I was hugely honoured to have been appointed Guardian of Tieu Long, meaning “Little Dragon”. He was a 12 kg moon bear cub who had been cruelly separated from his mother at an early age and, before Jill’s timely and caring intervention, was destined for a lifetime of suffering and confinement in a cage on a bear farm in Vietnam.

Now, nearly a decade later, the vivacious Tieu Long has thrived into becoming a very happy 125 kg mature moon bear, having been nurtured through so much love and care professionally provided by the wonderful Animals Asia team at the Tam Dao bear sanctuary. It it not only one of the greatest privileges to have been associated with the bear rescue and conservation successes of Jill and her team in Vietnam but also, as a Bear Guardian, to experience the immense joy of sharing the life journey of one particular small bear—Tieu Long.

As the Tam Dao sanctuary now nears full capacity of around 200 rescued bears, Animals Asia is presently working towards opening a second bear rescue sanctuary situated in the beautiful Bach Ma National Park. By sharing the vision of Animals Asia and supporting the wonderful ambition of ending bear farming in Vietnam forever, I can promise that potential donors and Guardians of the bears that will call Bach Ma “home”, will not only be rewarded with a huge sense of personal achievement from helping to bring about an end to the bear bile trade in Vietnam, but will also have the chance to be touched deep in their soul through close interaction with those very bears that have been saved from this most inhumane of practices.

Bienchen is the seven-year-old daughter of my niece Fränzi. Since her last birthday, Bienchen became Bear Guardian of Chilli-Bienchen, a sweet moon bear. Bienchen is proud that in Vietnam there is a little bear that carries her name and that they will both grow up together. She also knows that we can do something for the welfare of the animals. Bear Guardianship with Animals Asia has been the best present to her: Bienchen thinks so, as do Chilli-Bienchen and myself.

If you’re like me, when you first learned about bear bile farming it broke your heart and you desperately wanted to help.

Being a Bear Guardian is a wonderful way to make a real difference. You receive pictures and regular updates about what your bear has been up to, any ailments they may have, and the friends they have made. This fosters a close bond between you and your bear and you know that you are playing an important part in their life. They are like your child, and you are very much a part of the Animals Asia family. It’s also great fun finding a name to match the description of your bear!

And of course, you are invited to visit your bear at the sanctuary, which for me was a life-changing experience. The place is permeated with an extraordinary feeling of love, peace and compassion and the joy that you feel seeing those bears so happy after years of hell is hard to describe. It is a very healing, spiritual place.

For me, becoming a Bear Guardian is one of the best things I have ever done.

In 2006 my husband Richard and I first met Dr Jill Robinson, CEO and Founder of Animals Asia at their moon bear sanctuary in Chengdu, China. We were so impressed with the passion, enthusiasm and dedication of Jill and her team with the rescue and rehabilitation of the moon bears by providing a safe sanctuary from the horrendous conditions of bile farms. We understood the need for continual funding and donations to allow Animals Asia to continue their critical lifesaving work.

Our involvement with Animals Asia began with providing funds to build a bear den in Chengdu, China. We also visited the sanctuary in Tam Dao, Vietnam and were offered the opportunity to become Bear Guardians. Today we are the proud Guardians of four beautiful moon bears; Taurus, Jarvis, Ricky and Joey. We thoroughly enjoy the regular updates of all their progress and seeing the bears in a happy, fun and safe haven gives us so much personal pleasure.

We are very proud to be Bear Guardians, knowing our support helps Animals Asia give the bears back their freedom and dignity.

I wanted to let you know that my Bear Guardian packs have arrived and I'm completely delighted! I am so impressed with all the work everyone did to put together such a comprehensive account of the bears' history and their progress at the sanctuary. I am going to get the matted photographs framed and hung in a place of honour on my wall. I just can't tell you what a wonderful gift these Guardian packs are; I will treasure them forever. Thank you so much --- and thank you to all those who have been taking such good care of "my" bears at the sanctuary!