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Animal Friends Helps the Moon Bears

Animals Asia Foundation (AAF) is a Hong Kong-based government-registered animal welfare charity founded by Jill Robinson MBE in 1998. Across China over 7000 Asiatic Black Bears, (known as Moon Bears after the golden crescents of fur across their chests), are factory farmed under the most deplorable conditions. Metal catheters implanted deep into their gallbladders and holes in their abdomens enable farmers to 'milk' the bears twice daily for their bile, which is used in Chinese medicines.

Animal Friends Insurance is delighted to be helping AAF. Initially Animal Friends took on the financial responsibility of feeding 20 of AAF’s rescued Moon Bears and have since assisted them with other projects, including the building of a bear sanctuary in Vietnam, where the appalling bear trade, although illegal, still continues due to lack of enforcement.

A small extract of a letter of thanks to Animal Friends and its customers from Jill Robinson MBE. Founder & CEO of Animals Asia

Subject: Honey money!

Dear Elaine and Chris,

Just a short but very heartfelt message to thank you both so very much for your unbelievable generosity in helping our beloved bears through your company and clients of Animal Friends. Dave passed over the good news earlier this week when we were in the middle of helping our latest group of tragic new arrivals and it was a wonderful surprise and boost in the middle of such misery and sadness.

Step by small step they're beginning to pull through - and now nearly half of them will benefit with good food and nourishing treats because of your kindness. All have been cut out of their disgusting crush cages and some surgeries have commenced too, - with the next few months seeing many bears on the surgery table each week. Already we are amazed with how their forgiving characters are putting aside the anger and distrust of when they first arrived.
For now, once again from all in the Animals Asia team, sincere and heartfelt thanks for not only helping to feed these bears, but for giving their lives respect and meaning for the first time.

Warmest wishes, Jill.

Stop press - Update January 2009

AFI are thrilled to be assisting with the rescue and rehabilitation of moon bears in Vietnam.

Here is an extract from a press release issued by Animals Asia:

Last September, Animals Asia's Vietnam office was contacted by the forestry protection department of Ha Nam province regarding two bears that they had kept for several years in their holding station located 100 km southwest of Hanoi and about 4 hours away from Animals Asia's moon bear sanctuary in Tam Dao National Park.

The original history of the bears, though doubtless tragic, is not known. The Forestry Department had confiscated the two bears in 2004 and had kept them together in the same cage ever since, until a change in personnel and a raised awareness of Animals Asia's work led them to ask whether they could be transferred to the charity's bear sanctuary.

Thanks to their generosity Animals Asia invited AFI to name one of the newly arrived bears. They chose to name her "Gemma" in honour of one of their employees, Gemma Wickstead, who left the company on maternity leave around the same time as Gemma bear was rescued.

Gemma says:

"I couldn't believe Animal Friends offered to name the bear after me, I couldn't stop crying for ages! It's such an honour; I know what good work Animals Asia do and the fact that AFI have supported them for a long time."

Click on the link to read the full press release from Animals Asia, or to read more about their work, visit Animals Asia Foundation. 

More information about various projects which AFI has been involved with can be found on our Facebook page; you can also get regular updates by following us on Twitter - click the logos to help AFI pet and horse insurance continue helping animals in need.

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