Dear everyone,
I think by now that many of you know that Rae, our vet nurse and friend in Vietnam, had been sick during her time on site and returned home to Perth, Australia to receive some specialised care. At that time, events tragically unfolded as she was diagnosed with cardiac amyloidosis, which was affecting her heart and causing it to fail. Following a bone marrow biopsy, multiple myeoloma was diagnosed too. After a short time on chemotherapy Rae elected to stop this and other treatment as she was finding it all too much, and sent a message to friends across the world in preparation for a day she knew was not too far away.
Sadly that day was this morning at 05.30am Perth time and we were advised by her friend Cree that Rae had passed peacefully away in her sleep.
While the news was expected, when it comes, it is unbelievably sad. Rae was a remarkable woman – superbly loving and professional with all the animals that came her way, and always willing to do whatever it took to make them happy and well. Rae adored the bears especially and when she wasn’t nursing or working with them, she was talking about them wherever she was – whether it was in emails, over dinner in Tam Dao, or during the times she helped our Australia team at events.
Just this past week Rae agreed that one of our bears in Tam Dao, "Song Long", pictured here, should now have the name "Rae" – and we have heard from her friends in Perth just how much this had meant to her in the last few days of her life. Rae bear will always remind us of someone so special whose life touched us all.
Annemarie, our Bear and Vet Team Director sent a message from the team in Tam Dao: “We are devastated by the loss of Rae. It is hard to comprehend that someone who still had so much to give in life could not be with us any longer.
It was a dream come true for Rae to join our team and she has changed the lives of so many bears, cats and dogs whilst working with us. We will always remember her passion for animal welfare and the joy she had from watching the bears enjoy their lives to the fullest after they had been rescued. We will miss her dearly.”
Our sincere condolences to Rae’s family. She will always be here in our hearts, and long may we see a rae of sunshine breaking through the clouds in Tam Dao.
The final words are from Rae when she wrote one of her last messages to all at Animals Asia:
Please keep on making a difference to the world – you’re a wonderful bunch
Love Rae
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Seeing dogs and children taking part in our events in China is always guaranteed to be chaotic but full of happiness. Our recent Shenzhen World Animal Day celebration was no exception as the room was filled with barks and squeals of delight, together with lots of bright flashes as the media covered the fun.
One special man - Chen Junliang who is quite a celebrity in Shenzhen - came along to sing during the event. Junliang is blind and works for the Shenzhen Luohu District Disabled Persons Federation as a psychological health care teacher. He chose a song "You are my eyes", dedicated to a dog he calls his "brother", named Xiao Q and had the whole audience moved with his words and his beautiful voice.
Junliang's mother had raised Xiao Q from a puppy, training him to be a guide dog for the blind and planning to sell him to the Guide Dog Training Centre once training was complete. However, a year later they all decided that they couldn't bear to be separated from Xiao Q and decided to keep him, He now guides Junliang from his home to the office and the two of them are now inseparable as a result of their mutual trust and friendship. Xiao Qu has also recently passed our Dr Dog exam which means that he is spreading more love and respect as a community dog in Shenzhen.
Another Dr Dog owner, Carol, has a dog called Coffee who she often calls "Chairman" for fun. On the day of our event she was touched to see an abandoned child - a burns victim with badly scalded skin and missing fingers who was gently holding and kissing Coffee and enjoying being offered Coffee's affectionate love in return. Carol commented on her microblog that "Dogs are so special. They are born to be loved by so many people - I am wiling to be the slave of dogs".
Such moments are irreplaceable and help us to know that Dr Dog continues to spread warmth and healing as the programme goes on.
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It was beyond fabulous to see Dr Dame Jane Goodall recently in Hong Kong during her whirlwind visit and her presentation at the Royal Geographical Society.
Jane, who named one of our bears in Chengdu "Mandela" several years ago, also found time in her busy schedule to film a message to the Prime Minister of Vietnam, appealing to him to allow us to keep our sanctuary and also keep to the spirit of the Project Agreement he'd signed.
During her presentation, Jane spoke movingly about her life's work - from the beginnings .... her inspirational mother who encouraged both her love of worms and her curiosity in exploring how eggs were really laid. Her mother then accompanied her to Africa to work with Dr Richard Leakey - which ultimately inspired both a world renowned primatologist and a UN Ambassador of Peace.
Jane also spoke of another inspirational influence - her dog Rusty - and that's probably the story I like most of all. The concept of animals being embraced as individuals, has been the same inspiration behind the foundation of Animals Asia, rather than always lumped into species, or thought of as "things" to be exploited for our gain. It is why a dog named Max became the inspiration for Dr Dog - now in its 21st year across Asia - and why a bear called Hong began the dream of the China bear rescue.
Above: Jane is surrounded by her adoring fans. Below: Here's Jane with publisher and photographer Michael Neugebauer who's holding his iconic photo that's become the most famous picture of Jane of all. And in the last pic here we are with Jane's beloved "Mr H" - and with the travelling teddy that I gave her a couple of years ago (to keep her safe).
Sometimes the word "tireless" is used far too casually - but in Jane's case, it most definitely applies. Never spending more than three weeks in one place, Jane is a remarkable ambassador for all species - and for the healing of our broken planet. Through her wisdom, her compassion, she's a shining example of how to live one's life - the "things" we collect, at the end of the day, mean nothing without a clean environment, healthy families, and animals our children will respect and protect. Thank you Jane, with endless strength and love as your work goes on.
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The film "Moon Bear" recently swept more awards in China - this time from Jet Li's One Foundation.
Actor, producer and martial artist Jet Li has long been concerned with social issues - and his foundation awarded "Moon Bear" with no less than three awards at the ceremony in Beijing. Toby, our External Affairs Director, was there to accept the award on behalf of the brave production team, Elsa Xiong, Chen Yuanzhong and Tu Qiao, who were praised by the judges for their courage, and for the film's positive impact on wildlife protection.
Here's Toby (left) accepting the award from Jet Li.
Endless congratulations Elsa, Yuanzhong and Tu Qiao for the voice you have given the suffering moon bears, which grows louder each time your film receives the awards it so much deserves.
See the full story here.
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What a lovely, lovely night at the Royal Geographical Society in London on the 18 October. Endless thanks to hosts David Shepherd Wildlife Foundation, Environmental Investigation Agency (and especially Debbie Banks who gave an amazing presentation of the increasing problems that tigers face today).
Thanks to Dr Kaicun Zhao who spoke with such conviction and intelligence about "healing without harm", and MC Mark Carwardine who gave a passionate presentation, speaking first hand about the terrible plight of rhino's, including one individual called Max, who has now joined the ranks of hundreds this year, slaughtered for his horn.
So many people to thank for the night, and who joined us all in supporting the end of bear and tiger farming too.
Over to Nicky in our UK office who has summed up a perfectly wonderful evening here.
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