Moon Bear Rescue

I have been sent a load of papers re Moon Bear Rescue organisation in Somerset - the person hasn't left a contact number or address - so I hope this blog will reassure if they do come across it! Indeed they may well be aware it was Green party MEPs who worked hard to get the Written Declaration adopted in the EU last year. This led to the European Parliament requesting that the Chinese Government initiate a countrywide ban over the farming of bear bile by the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games.

Photo: rescued bear

The Asiatic Black Bear, also known as Moon Bears for the beautiful golden crescent across their chests, are one of the eight bear species in the world listed under the Convention of International Trade in Endangered Species, but almost one third of their population, more than 7,000 bears are locked up in cages on 212 farms across China.

The bears are 'milked' for their bile up to twice a day often through catheters implanted in their gall bladders. The extradition causes severe physical and mental pain. Those that are rescued through the Animals Asia Foundation are taken to the Moon Bear Rescue Sanctuary at Chengdu. They are released from their cages and treated by a veterinary team through surgery to remove their damaged gall bladders.

London's Green MEP, Jean Lambert, who helped launch the initial campaign in the European Parliament, has welcomed the step-forward and also urged London to address it's own ethical standards before the 2012 Olympics. The 'Moon Bears' campaign with Animals Asia Foundation has already seen over 40 bear farms closed down by the Chinese Government since October 2000.

This EU Written Declaration was only the 5th to be adopted. Jean commented at the time:"Bear bile farming is a vile practice and is clear cruelty when there are over 50 herbal and synthetic, cheaper and equally efficacious alternatives available. China's Department of Wildlife Conservation may have rejected the resolution on the grounds that it is used for medical benefits but this cannot be argued when bear bile is used in shampoo. Although the Chinese Government has recently made positive efforts to work with the Animals Asia Foundation and free the bears, many more remain in captivity. The Written Declaration will formally acknowledge and request that further action is taken with the aim to ban the barbaric practice completely. The 2008 Beijing Olympics provides a clear opportunity for this. It is not acceptable that a major city, hosting the Olympic games, takes part in unethical customs and I urge London to address our own ethical standards before we are Olympic hosts in 2012."