Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
Bears have taught me forgiveness.. Despite their suffering, they can still trust people
BRAVE BRIT BATTLING VILE TRADE IN BEAR BILE
It took a few seconds for Jill Robinson’s eyes to become accustomed to the dim light, but what she saw on that remote Chinese bear farm changed her life.
The animal rights campaigner was surrounded by dozens of endangered Asiatic black bears, staring sadly out from tiny cages. They were so cramped, they were unable to stand or turn around. Some nursed painful patches of exposed flesh, a few had broken teeth from biting the iron bars, and others had missing paws or limbs.
One had a long metal needle protruding from its abdomen, used to extract bile from its gall bladder for use in traditional Chinese medicine.
As she was about to leave, one of the forlorn bears reached out through the cage bars, and Jill instinctively took its huge paw in her hands. At that moment, she knew she had to do something to help them.
It was the start of an lifelong passion for Jill, who has rescued hundreds of bears from farms in China and Vietnam. However, she plays down all that she has achieved. “The bears have taught me forgiveness. They’re amazingly stoic. They’ve come through it and they’re now happy to see us,” she says.
“It’s a privilege being part of the whole process, and seeing that an animal can trust people, the same species that has caused it such pain and suffering.”
It is estimated that more than 11,000 Asiatic black bears – or moon bears – are victims of the trade across the two countries. They are subjected to unimaginable suffering each day and some are caged for up to 30 years.
The bile is used in traditional medicine – many believe it boosts fertility – cosmetics and wine in an industry worth over £1.5billion annually.
To fight the cruel practice, Jill set up the Animals Asia foundation in 1998, opening sanctuaries in China and Vietnam. Today, the centres care for more than 400 rescued bears, while more than 600 have been freed.
Jill’s life’s work will be recognised with an Outstanding Contribution gong at the Daily Mirror’s Animal Heroes Awards, in association with the RSPCA, which celebrates inspiring examples of bravery, dedication and resilience in the animal world.
The Animal Hero Awards, hosted by Amanda Holden, take place at Grosvenor House in London tomorrow.
Her lobbying has helped to close 43 Chinese bear farms and succeeded in eliminating them totally in 20 of the country’s 31 provinces.
Jill also found that bear bile could be replaced with cheaper and equally effective herbs and synthetics. She began working with traditional medicine doctors and Western doctors in China to promote the alternatives.
And in 2015, the foundation reached an agreement with the Vietnamese Traditional Medicine Association to stop all use of bear bile by 2020.
Jill, from Newark, Notts, said: “We are making progress. We are seeing farms close, bear numbers drop. The will to eradicate bear bile farming from Vietnam has never been higher.”
In Vietnam, extracting bile is technically banned, but traders still sell bear bile for as little as £1.50 per vial. Jill says: “The Vietnamese government turn a blind eye. Men drink bile in rice wine, thinking it makes them virile or will stop hangovers. But it is not all just superstition.
“The bile does have beneficial properties. It can treat liver ailments, it reduces swelling, and rejuvenates brain cells. But it has been replicated successfully in a lab, so there is no need for a single bear to be in captivity and to suffer for decades .”
At Animals Asia’s centres, which cost more than £1million a year to run, bears are free to roam in huge compounds. But many take years to recover from their trauma.
Jill says: “We are patient. We know that sometimes it takes time for them to understand that nothing will hurt them ever again.” Some rescued bears are given to Jill by farmer those who shut down their farms. “We are on their conscience radar now. They now have an alternative to killing the bears if they no longer produce the bile in the quantities they want, or if they are getting out of the business.”
An animal lover since she was young, Jill married an airline pilot and the couple lived in Hong Kong, where their nextdoor neighbour was David Dawson, the co-ordinator of the International Fund For Animal Welfare in Asia.
Jill began working as David’s secretary, joining him on trips to investigate reports of animal cruelty, which is how she found herself in the bear bile farm in China’s Guangdong province. In 1991, Jill also founded Dr Dog, the first
Jill is so courageous. She is a shining example to everyone VIRGINIA MCKENNA ON ACTIVIST JILL ROBINSON
animal therapy programme in China. Over 300 “canine consultants” are now registered as animal therapy dogs who visit hospitals, centres for the disabled, orphanages and schools, offering comfort.
Now she is turning her attention to the breeding and slaughter of dogs and cats for meat in Asia, as well as campaigning for better conditions in Asian zoos.
British film-maker Andrew Telling, who earlier this year released a documentary about Jill called To The Moon And Back, says: “We are bombarded by stories of animal cruelty, and yet great people who affect change are rarely mentioned. Her approach is apolitical, calm, unthreatening. It’s culturally sensitive.”
And Virginia Mckenna, founder of the Born Free Foundation, adds: “Jill is outstanding. She’s hugely courageous. She will inspire many young people and is a shining example to everyone.” IT’S the awards night which is guaranteed to ruffle a few feathers — and send the fur flying.
No, it’s not the Soap Awards, but the Daily Mirror’s Animal Hero Awards, in association with the RSPCA.
Tomorrow’s ceremony at London’s Grosvenor House will be hosted by Britain’s Got Talent’s Amanda Holden.
She says: “I love these awards. The stories of the people who dedicate themselves to animal welfare, and the courage of the animals themselves, is absolutely inspirational.”