There are many bears in need of rescue and Cotton Blossom was one of them. 

She was a lonely caged moon bear in Vietnam. And Animals Asia were on the verge of rescuing this bear – the last remaining caged bear – in the Gia Lai province, Covid-19 sabotaged their plans. 

Animals Asia gave her the name of Cotton Blossom after the trees that were flowing at her home at the Animal Asia’s Vietnam Bear Rescue Centre.

The team had no choice but to abandon their rescue because of strict lockdowns, put in place because of the coronavirus. 

At the end of June, the team was finally able to rescue her. They made their way to the military post where Cotton Blossom had spent some 14 years. 

Luckily she was a calm bear and enjoyed the sweet treats the team offered her.  She wasn’t even put out by the sound of the angle grinder cutting open her cage door.  And she went into the transport cage of her own volition, ready to head to her new home.

The journey took most of 4 days, covering almost 1,100 km as Cotton Blossom travelled to Animals Asia’s sanctuary north of Hanoi.  She had plenty of treats on route.  Cotton Blossom spends 45 days in quarantine, and has a full health check, too.  Then she’s off to a larger den – and the chance to walk on grass and feel the sun on her face.  She’ll even have the opportunity to make friends with some of the other bears there – she should find someone, there are nearly 200 bears there!  She’ll have all the care and love she needs – and deserves.

Animals Asia has an exclusive agreement with the Vietnamese government to rescue the last 500 bears who are on bile farms in the country.  And the rescue of Cotton Blossom means another province is free of bear farms. 

You can donate today to help Cotton Blossom – well, blossom!

#CottonBlossomRescue

The 14^th July is World Orca Day.

PETA have a petition asking TUI to stop selling tickets to SeaWorld and other facilities that hold orcas captive in cramped tanks at marine abusement parks.

At SeaWorld, PETA say that orcas live in cramped concrete tanks.  There’s no physical, mental or emotional stimulation so they spent their days going round in circle after circle.

At least 41 orcas and dozens of other dolphins have died at SeaWorld Parks from various causes including trauma, intestinal gangrene and chronic cardiovascular failure.  They are used in circus-style shows which are out of date now, thank goodness.

Many travel providers have cut their ties with marine parks.  British Airways Holidays and Virgin Holidays said “No thanks” to keeping marine mammals in tanks.  They were followed by Airbnb, TripAdvisory and Booking.com.

Please send a message to TUI and remind them that keeping orcas in tanks is wrong.  It’s time they followed the example of the aforementioned.

Please sign the petition here

The 14^th July is World Chimpanzee Day!

It’s a chance to celebrate our closest living relative in the animal kingdom, and to discover more about these amazing animals and see what we can do to help them.

Chimpanzees face threats in the wild such as habitat loss, disease and wildlife trafficking, illegal pet and bush meat trades.  

Those who are kept in captivity as illegal “pets” or in roadside zoos are deprived of essential physical, emotional and especially social needs.  Events such as World Chimpanzee Day help educate the public and promote legislation to end these conditions, increasing the rights and welfare of all captive chimpanzees.

Let’s work to secure a future for these amazing animals.

For they are highly endangered.  100 years ago, there were about 1-2 million chimpanzees across African countries.

Today, there are as few as 350,000 wild chimpanzees in Africa. 

Visit World Chimpanzee Day’s website here.

#WorldChimpanzeeDay 

Visit the Jane Goodall Institute to find out more