Animals Asia Foundation
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Animals Asia Foundation is a Hong Kong-based charity that seeks to end cruelty to animals in Asia. It was founded in 1998 by Jill Robinson, who felt compelled to create the organisation after learning of the plight of the Asiatic Black Bear known as the “Moon Bear” because of the yellow crescent on its chest. Moon Bears are farmed throughout Asia for their bile, which is used in traditional Chinese medicine. The methods used in bear bile farming involve bears living up to 25 years in crush cages with metal catheters inserted into their abdomens for bile extraction or open wounds through which the bile drips.[1]
Animals Asia Foundation has been profiled on CNN, NPR, Animal Planet, the BBC, the National Geographic Channel, as well as in print media in several countries. Founder Jill Robinson has received numerous distinctions for her commitment to animal welfare including the 2002 Genesis Award[2], the Reader's Digest Hero for Today Award[citation needed] and an MBE from the Queen of England.[citation needed]The Foundation's headquarters is in Hong Kong with additional offices, a sanctuary and an educational centre in China, Germany, Australia, the United States and the United Kingdom.[3]
[edit] References
American Embassy in China, "Bear Bile Farming"[4]
Animal Planet, "Animals Asia Foundation"[5]
McLaughlin,K. "Freeing China's Caged Bile Bears", San Francisco Chronicle, April 25, 2005[6]
