REDDITCH campaigner Vicky Dugmore is saying ‘thanks beary much!’ for the generosity of local residents after smashing her fundraising total.
Vicky spent a night in a cage measuring just 122 x 74 x 80cm to highlight the plight of wild bears held in captivity in the Far East as part of a worldwide push by the charity Free the Bears.
The captive bears are ‘milked’ for the bile by having catheters inserted into their gall bladder to make ‘traditional’ medicine.
And although the practice is illegal in many countries lots of bears remain in captivity while in China it is estimated some 10,000 bears are still in bile farms.
“Whether it’s Paddington Bear, Winnie-the-Pooh, Baloo from Jungle Book or a more recent Iorek Byrnison from His Dark Materials we all know a famous fictional bear and most of us would have owned a Teddy Bear at some point in our lives,” said Vicky, from Church Hill.
“Bears face many threats from habitat loss, poaching, the illegal pet trade and the bear bile industry.
“It is not unusual for bears to have a paw or part of a paw missing from when they were captured in snares, many who have faced long periods of time in captivity have dental and mobility issues from poor diet and lack of space to move around and exercise.
“They often have callouses on their nose, forehead or rump from constantly rubbing them against the bars of their cage.
“Those that have been used in the bear bile industry may have long term health complaints due to the continued invasive procedures used to extract their bile.
“Cubs are rescued after their mothers have been killed by poachers, intercepted before reaching the illegal pet trade sometimes found in small makeshift cages, just the other year one was rescued from a small round bird cage!”
She added: “This is why when Free The Bears Challenged their supporters to spend a Night In A Cage on May 14 I didn’t hesitate.”
Vicky’s fundraising efforts brought in £452 with the UK Team in total raising £1,633 after more supporters joined.
“In total supporters around the world have raised £20,562.00 so far. If £24 feeds a rescued bear for 10 days and £17 buys a cub care kit for a rescued bear you can see what a difference this can make.”
For more information on the charity visit: REDDITCH campaigner Vicky Dugmore is saying ‘thanks beary much!’ for the generosity of local residents after smashing her fundraising total.
Vicky spent a night in a cage measuring just 122 x 74 x 80cm to highlight the plight of wild bears held in captivity in the Far East as part of a worldwide push by the charity Free the Bears.
The captive bears are ‘milked’ for the bile by having catheters inserted into their gall bladder to make ‘traditional’ medicine.
And although the practice is illegal in many countries lots of bears remain in captivity while in China it is estimated some 10,000 bears are still in bile farms.
“Whether it’s Paddington Bear, Winnie-the-Pooh, Baloo from Jungle Book or a more recent Iorek Byrnison from His Dark Materials we all know a famous fictional bear and most of us would have owned a Teddy Bear at some point in our lives,” said Vicky, from Church Hill.
“Bears face many threats from habitat loss, poaching, the illegal pet trade and the bear bile industry.
“It is not unusual for bears to have a paw or part of a paw missing from when they were captured in snares, many who have faced long periods of time in captivity have dental and mobility issues from poor diet and lack of space to move around and exercise.
“They often have callouses on their nose, forehead or rump from constantly rubbing them against the bars of their cage.
“Those that have been used in the bear bile industry may have long term health complaints due to the continued invasive procedures used to extract their bile.
“Cubs are rescued after their mothers have been killed by poachers, intercepted before reaching the illegal pet trade sometimes found in small makeshift cages, just the other year one was rescued from a small round bird cage!”
She added: “This is why when Free The Bears Challenged their supporters to spend a Night In A Cage on May 14 I didn’t hesitate.”
Vicky’s fundraising efforts brought in £452 with the UK Team in total raising £1,633 after more supporters joined.
“In total supporters around the world have raised £20,562.00 so far. If £24 feeds a rescued bear for 10 days and £17 buys a cub care kit for a rescued bear you can see what a difference this can make.”
For more information on the charity visit: freethebears.org
