Events

A moon bear called Jasper

27 June 2007

On Wednesday 27 June at the beautiful RHS Garden, David Shepherd's first ever painting of a moon bear will be auctioned in association with Animals Asia Foundation, to raise funds to end the barbaric farming of bears

Hell of a cure

Like thousands of endangered moon bears across China, Jasper spent his life crushed in a tiny cage, unable to move, and never seeing the light of day. 15 tortured years of relentless pain and frustrated biting on the bars that were denying him his freedom, left him with appalling suppurating wounds, hair loss and drastically worn teeth and claws.

Moon bears are imprisoned in hundreds of hellish factory farms throughout China, Vietnam and South Korea due to the insatiable consumer demand for bear bile in traditional oriental medicine. The bears are milked for their bile through rusting metal catheters pushed deep into their gall bladders, or via ghastly "free-drip" holes in their abdomens, where bile and infection constantly drip out.

In Chinese pharmacopoeia bear bile is termed as a 'cold' medicine to treat 'heat' related illnesses such as fevers, sore eyes and liver complaints despite readily available and equally efficacious synthetic and herbal alternatives. All that these bears know is appalling suffering and unspeakable fear.

Jasper was one of the very first bears rescued by Animals Asia Foundation Founder, Jill Robinson, when she originally uncovered this barbaric trade. His were some of the first eyes staring pleadingly back at her from his cage.

Despite years of horrific physical and mental abuse, following extensive abdominal surgery and round the clock intensive care at AAF's Chengdu Sanctuary, Jasper began his slow recovery. It wasn't long before he showed his true sweet and forgiving nature. After years of agony, Jasper's affection for bears and people alike humbles us all.

Today, Jasper is one of the friendliest bears at Chengdu – spending his days tumbling around in the sunshine in his huge natural forest enclosure with his friends, before collapsing into his cosy hanging basket, happy and contented.

Jasper has now been immortalised on canvas! He has just had his portrait painted by international artist and conservationist, David Shepherd. David's first ever painting of a moon bear has been published as a limited edition print of just 1,000 copies. Priced at just £120, every print purchased will raise funds to end the barbaric farming of bears.

The original painting donated by David will be auctioned at a very special midsummer fundraising dinner for moon bears hosted by David and Jill on Wednesday 27 June at the beautiful RHS Garden, Wisley, Surrey (just off M25/A3 Jctn).

• Tickets £35 pp, including a complimentary drink on arrival - call DSWF on 01483 272323.
• Sealed auction bids for the original painting can also be sent confidentially to DSWF.
• To secure your exclusive copy of 'A Moon Bear called Jasper' limited edition print for just £120 (image size 34cm x 26cm) please email dswf@davidshepherd.org

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