Since its founding in 1998, Animals Asia Foundation has been dedicated to ending the bear bile industry in Vietnam and China. In Vietnam, extracting bear bile and capturing new bears is now illegal. However around 200 bears remain caged throughout the country, serving as a final reminder of a practice that, fortunately, now belongs to the past.
Animals Asia is now working tirelessly to build a new sanctuary that will provide these last 200 bears with a safe home, where they will receive much-needed veterinary care and once again feel grass beneath their paws.
This is a success story, but the mission to protect bears is far from over.
Bear bile has been used in traditional Asian medicine for its anti-inflammatory properties. However, the same benefits can be obtained from various herbal alternatives. Raising awareness of this is crucial to eliminating the demand for bear bile. The goal is to prevent illegal production while promoting the use of herbal substitutes. To advance this effort, the QATO Foundation is supporting the construction of a dedicated education centre, which is being established as an integral part of Animals Asia’s new bear sanctuary. Here, both on-site and community-based activities will help spread the message.
"In our holistic and sustainable approach to ending bear bile farming in Vietnam, education has always been – and will always be – a vital pillar. It is through education that we reach the hearts and minds of the next generation, fostering empathy for bears and equipping people with the knowledge and understanding to make kinder, more ethical choices. What makes our approach so powerful is that it is led by Vietnamese educators, ensuring that our programmes are culturally relevant and deeply rooted in local wisdom, including the use of herbal alternatives in traditional Vietnamese medicine,” says Heidi Quine, Vietnam Director for Animals Asia Foundation.
Students and other visitors will be able to visit the education centre while also witnessing the rescued bears enjoying their newfound semi-freedom at the sanctuary. As part of the awareness efforts, local school children– will, under the guidance of Animals Asia Foundation, plant and maintain herbal gardens featuring alternatives to bear bile. This hands-on education initiative not only teaches sustainable medical alternatives but also fosters empathy for all animals among the younger generation.
Animals Asia Foundation is dedicated to ending the bear bile industry in Asia, rescuing all bile bears from captivity and providing them with a home at one of its award-winning sanctuaries in China and Vietnam. The organisation was founded in 1998 by veterinarian Dr Jill Robinson, who continues to lead as CEO. While bile bears are the foundation’s primary focus, Animals Asia Foundation also works to promote compassion and respect for all animals and to drive longterm change in Asia. This is achieved through programmes supporting cat and dog welfare as well as initiatives for animals in the tourism and entertainment industries.
