Animals Asia | olsen-animal-trust

Animals Asia

Jill Robinson - Founder

Jasper - Rescued Moon Bear

When Jill Robinson came face-to-face with her first bear in a bile farm in 1993 there was no turning back. She immediately dedicated her life to saving these poor creatures. When our man on the ground, Dave Higgs, had the same experience in Vietnam it was obvious why she had done it. Such callous and unbelievable cruelty must be stopped.

Founded in 1998, Animals Asia promotes compassion and respect for all animals and works to bring about long-term change. Although the main focus of their work is bears,they now work on animal welfare initiatives across a wide range of domestic and wild animals in Asia. Over the last two decades Animals Asia have made huge progress, vowing that they won't stop until the cruelty ends and OAT are devoted to supporting them.

What Animals Asia does

Work collaboratively with local governments to end the barbaric bear bile trade

Provide lifetime care for bears rescued form bile farms at their award-winning sanctuaries in China and Vietnam

Work towards ending the trade in dogs and cats for food in China and Vietnam

Strive to end the use of wild animals such as elephants for entertainment and the tourism industry

Develop and deliver programs to educate and improve the relationship between humans and animals and improve the welfare of companion animals (dogs and cats)

Campaign and educate with a view to ending abusive animal practices in zoos and safari parks in Asia

Work closely with governing authorities to improve animal management and increase awareness of the welfare needs of captive animals

How Olsen Animal Trust helps

Sponsored the construction of a new bear house and enclosures at the Vietnam Sanctuary

Cover veterinary costs at Chengdu Bear Sanctuary, China

Individual sponsorship of Jeffery bear and Nicola Jayne bear for their life-time care

Provide core funding across the organisation including both bear sanctuaries and a wide range of welfare and campaign projects

Support of a government initiative to end elephant back riding in Yok Don National Park and hopefully in the country

Fund the cost of animal welfare managers in Vietnam, whose specific emphasis is on the welfare of captive animals

Fund-raising and event support

Strategic support through the sponsorship of fund-raising expertise

Project Images - hover over for details

Farmed Moon Bear

Dave, our OATOKE, visited this horrific bear bile farm in Vietnam and witnessed first-hand the horrifying reality of what these bears suffer. They are kept in cages like this their entire life which can be up to 20 years. In temperatures up to 40 degrees, with bile being regularly extracted from their gall bladders. This is done via a four inch spinal needle once the bears are inappropriately anaesthetised by illegal ketamine. Their suffering is beyond comprehension.

Jeffrey the rescued Moon Bear

Named after Jeffrey Olsen, Jeffrey the Moon Bear was rescued from a bear bile farm and is now living out his days happily at the Animals Asia bear sanctuary in Vietnam.

Nicola Jane the rescued Moon Bear

Named after Nicola Jayne Olsen, Nicola Jayne the Moon Bear, is currently being nurtured back to health by Animals Asia. She is still located at a bear bile farm, but it is no longer operational, so thankfully no more bile is being extracted from her. Nicola Jayne and 121 other bears at the farm are waiting to be transferred to the Animals Asia Bear Sanctuary in Cheng Du where they will live out the rest of their life and feel grass under their feet for the first time.

An enclosure for rescued bears

This is one of the enclosures at Animals Asia's bear sanctuary in Vietnam. Purpose-built to ensure maximum comfort and stimulation for the residents. OAT has sponsored the development of an additional enclosure like this at the sanctuary which has and will continue to enable Animals Asia to rescue more bears.

OAT sponsored enclosure

The Olsen family standing outside the bear enclosure they co-sponsored with the Covey family at Animals Asia's sanctuary in Vietnam.

Spending time with the veterinary team

During the Olsen's trip to the Animals Asia sanctuary in China, they watch the heroic vets as they carried out a health check on one of the rescued moon bears. Bears farmed for their bile often have a variety of health issues including broken teeth and claws, damaged organs such as livers and kidneys, and many of them have large tumours. Animals Asia work tirelessly to ensure these poor bears receive the best possible care and live a pain free life going forward.

Hard to see an elephant chained

There were many difficult things to see during the Olsen's trip to Asia but none so difficult as the elephants used in tourism for elephant back riding. This particular elephant was kept on a short chain whilst waiting for the next tourist to arrive. I some cases this meant standing in one place for an entire day. Nicola in particular was traumatised by this and we vowed there and then as a family to help end this situation.

Jun the lucky orphan at the ECC

Jun is one of the lucky ones, recused by the Elephant Conservation Centre from a life destined in the tourist industry. OAT is proud to sponsor Dionne, the welfare Manager who looks after this facility and Harry who works closely with her and works tireless to improve welfare standards at a variety of facilities across Vietnam.

Hnol now roaming free in Yok Don

We are thrilled that thanks to a government initiative, developed by Animals Asia and sponsored by OAT elephant riding has now been completely stopped in Yok Don National Park and replaced by an ethical walking scheme. The five elephants within the park are now free to roam for the majority of the day and night.

Doctor Dog

The Doctor Dog programme aims to improve peoples perception of animals and encourage them to respect and treat them as sentient beings. Appropriate, privately owned dogs, who have undergone a comprehensive assessment by Animals Asia, are taken into old age homes, hospitals, children’s wards and institutions to provide animal therapy. Animals Asia also advise owners on animal care and welfare.

Performing animals

Like Animals Asia, we strongly believe that wild animals should not be used for human entertainment. OAT supports Animals Asia's campaign work to end abusive animal practices and exploitation across Asia.

Professor Paws

The Professor Paws programme involves registered therapy dogs visiting Chinese schools to teach children to overcome their fear of dogs, learn safety around them, and learn about responsible pet care and compassion for all animals.

Fundraising event

In July 2016 OAT hosted and sponsored a fundraising event for Animals Asia. Over 100 people attended and £36,000 was raised on the night.

Ending animal captivity

Confining a wild animal in a cage or unnatural enclosure for human entertainment, is, in our view, completely unacceptable. Animals Asia are working towards a total ban on such cruel practises. Until this cruelty ends, they will continue to work closely with governing authorities to improve animal management and the welfare needs of these captive animals.

The bear graveyard

This is one of over 160 graves representing bears that have been buried by Animals Asia over the past 16 years Each bear is given the dignity they deserve. We are so proud of our OATOKE Dave, who spent time, during his visit to the Chengdu graveyard, clearing debris that had been brought in by a recent storm.

For further information on the wonderful and inspirational work of Animals Asia please visit www.animalsasia.org