Meet some of the most iconic bears that Animals Asia has cared for at its award-winning sanctuaries in China and Vietnam.
Meet some of the most iconic bears that Animals Asia has cared for at its award-winning sanctuaries in China and Vietnam.
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Mickey, whose magnificent profile inspired our logo and became the moon bear face of Animals Asia, is a truly inspirational bear. One of nine bears saved in our first rescue in 1995, Mickey flourished after being freed from his tiny farm cage and almost 20 years later is still going strong in our Chengdu sanctuary.
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Andrew was the first rescued bear to arrive at our Chengdu sanctuary when it opened in 2000 and was handsome and inspiring in equal measures. Forgiving and gentle, despite his years on a bear bile farm and the handicap of a missing left limb. Since his death in 2006, this special, courageous bear has been deeply missed.
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This sometimes silly and frequently funny moon bear was known as the peacemaker of the China sanctuary and his easygoing temperament earned him a special role in welcoming new bears into the fold. He also broke up occasional disagreements between bears. Jasper spent 15 years in a small crush-cage on a bear bile farm, but despite this he blossomed into a gentle and trusting bear. A true ambassador for his species, Jasper had two children’s books to his name. Sadly, Jasper passed away peacefully in April 2016 after 15 years at our sanctuary, living the life he always deserved - free and happy and deeply loved.
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This brave, charismatic bear was rescued from a bile farm in Vietnam where he spent 14 years caged in a dark, dank room. Zebedee survived a broken muzzle and rotten teeth, from injuries deliberately inflicted when he was a cub and which must have caused him unimaginable pain and suffering especially while eating. Today, his joy of foraging outside and relishing all that he finds is only matched by his happiness in playing with newfound friends.
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Thirty years locked into a metal jacket inside a cage in a dark, damp shed failed to crush this beautiful brown bear’s spirit. After his rescue in 2010, Oliver survived major abdominal surgery in the back of the truck that was bringing him home to Chengdu. Miraculously, this old, old bear spent four and a half wonderful years with us before we had to say goodbye. It is heartwarming to remember Oliver as he shuffled out into his enclosure to enjoy the freedom he had finally found after his long, hard life.
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One of our newly rescued bears, Peter had been locked for years in one of the smallest cages we’ve ever seen. Shy and anxious as a result, Peter is gradually settling into his new home in Chengdu and becoming calmer with every day that passes. Named after UK actor Peter Egan, our Peter bear is bright, curious and bravely embracing his new life as a happy, active bear.
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The colour of dark cocoa, Chocolate Tara was a stunningly beautiful, playful bear who loved to romp in his enclosure with his best friends. After being rescued along with 18 other bears from a bile farm in Vietnam – where cargo containers had been converted into suffocating cages – Chocolate Tara flourished at our sanctuary for many years.
Chocolate Tara went to sleep, never to wake up, in January 2020. But he had brought sunshine and joy to all around him for the years that we were lucky to share with him. As he left his friends we vowed to continue our mission to end bear bile farming once and for all, in honour of Chocolate Tara and all of the bears. Sweet dreams Chocolate Tara.
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Stuck up a tree on a freezing cold evening in 2009, Jingle was luckily not too far away from our rescue centre in Chengdu. After a dramatic rescue, she was taken safely home – a tiny, undernourished cub. Missing her right front paw, probably a result of being snared in the wild, we believe she either escaped a farm or while being transported to one. She has grown into a happy, playful and sociable bear who loves the company of the other bears and can often be found playing in the enclosure or lying in the soft grass under the sun. Best recognised by her big Mickey Mouse ears.
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Mausi arrived at our Vietnam sanctuary in June 2007 after being discovered with two other tiny cubs in a secret compartment under a passenger bus - headed for a life of misery on a bile farm. Mausi thrived in her new environment and her excitement over anything new was a joy to watch. She has grown into a sweet-natured, playful young bear. She shares her den and outdoor enclosures with a large group of bears, mostly energetic juveniles but also a couple of mature bears. Mausi gets along famously with them all.