Star of the hit TV show “Downton Abbey” UK actress Lesley Nicol, iconic actress and activist Ali MacGraw and Animals Asia founder and CEO Jill Robinson MBE will be touring the US in support of Animals Asia.

Lesley Nicol is one of Animals Asia’s UK Ambassador and Ali MacGraw, best known for her starring role in the classic “Love Story”, is an Animals Asia’s North American Ambassador. Best known for her recurring role as the beloved “Mrs. Patmore” in the popular drama series “Downton Abbey” Lesley has had a long career in theatre, film and TV – including parts in West End musicals such as “Mamma Mia” and “Our House,” and films including “East is East” and its sequel “West is West.”

Lesley has twice visited Animals Asia in China – including its bear rescue center in Chengdu and a former bear bile farm in Nanning. More than 10,000 bears are still kept on bile farms in China in tiny cages. The bears regularly suffer painful bile extractions for use in traditional medicine. To date, including the Nanning project, Animals Asia, has rescued over 500 bears in China and Vietnam and continues to campaign to end bear bile farming.

Lesley comments:

“When I first read about the moon bears and Animals Asia I connected with them immediately. However, meeting them face to face was just mind-blowing. These animals are powerful, beautiful, charismatic and totally endearing - actually, you could say exactly the same for the amazing Jill Robinson. I will help in any way I can in the fight to end bear bile farming for Jill, the charity and the Chinese people who abhor this disgraceful practice. They have my love and complete support – until the cruelty ends.”

Internationally celebrated actress and animal activist Ali MacGraw joined Animals Asia as a North American Ambassador in 2012 while the Vietnam Bear Rescue Center was in the midst of battling a threatened eviction. As a spokesperson for the campaign, Ali traveled to our Vietnam sanctuary in Tam Dao National Park, and spent time with the bears and met with local media. Ali continues to offer her powerful voice in support of the bears.

The Academy Award-nominated actress says:

“As someone who believes passionately that we human beings have a serious responsibility to care not just for each other, but for all animals, … I am honored to be an ambassador for the extraordinary and very endangered moon bear. This little known and magical animal is in urgent need of our support now.”

Having spent the last 30 years working on animal welfare issues in Asia, Animals Asia founder and CEO Jill Robinson has been awarded an MBE by Queen Elizabeth in recognition of her services to animal welfare in Asia and is a Member of the USA Society of Woman Geographers.

Over the years she has given hundreds of presentations including TED Talks and has been interviewed on programs aired on CNN, GMTV, BBC News and NPR.

During the tour, Jill will be speaking on recent achievements and upcoming plans with Animals Asia, in particular the success of the Healing Without Harm program which has over 1,900 Chinese pharmacies pledging to turn their backs on bear bile products.

In the past year, this campaign has increased the number of bear bile free shops and pharmacies from around 260 in August 2013 to 1,945 today.

Jill Robinson said:

“We’re delighted that people are pushing to be a part of this campaign now. Healing Without Harm is a key part of our efforts to end bear bile farming and this initiative has seen an unprecedented rise in traditional medicine doctors and pharmacies supporting alternatives to the use and prescription of bile. It’s fundamentally important to reduce the market and the availability if more bears are going to be helped, and this is just what we are seeing here.”

While medical practitioners and pharmacists remain key recipients of the campaign’s message, demand for the products is also being reduced by awareness raising campaigns.

Jill Robinson added:

“So many people in China recognize that bear bile farming has had its day.”

Bear bile is extracted using various painful, invasive techniques, all of which cause massive infection in the bears. This practice continues despite the availability of a large number of effective and affordable herbal and synthetic alternatives.

Farmed bears are kept in tiny cages, sometimes so small the bears are unable to turn around or stand on all fours. With the reckless use of antibiotics, bears can be made to endure these painful conditions for up to 30 years. Most farmed bears are starved, dehydrated and suffer from multiple diseases and malignant tumors that ultimately kill them.

Proceeds raised from each of Jill Robinson’s US events will benefit Animals Asia’s work to end bear bile farming, and to improve cat and dog welfare and the lives of animals at zoos and safari parks in China and Vietnam.

Tour dates:

San Francisco, November 17

Los Angeles, November 18

New York City, November 22

Washington DC, November 23

For more information and tickets call (415) 677 9601 or visit www.animalsasia.org/us-events.

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