I can’t believe that October is here….and that means a very momentous occasion draws near!  Next week I am heading off to Vietnam along with 4 friends to meet Jigsaw for the very first time at the Vietnam Bear Rescue Centre near the hill town of Tam Dao!  Understandably we will only be visiting the bears for one day of our 10 day tour so have planned an interesting itinerary in the region around Hanoi, including some walking in the Sapa region where the Hmong communities live, and an overnight cruise on Halong Bay for some R&R.  But truth be told, the trip to  the north of Hanoi, at the edge of Tam Dao National Park, that will be the much anticipated highlight for me. I am quickly acquiring rudimentary skills with a video camera so hopefully the weather will be kind and Jigsaw and his bear buddies will be out and about, performing like stars!!!

We are very lucky that Tuan, the director of the Rescue Centre will be on hand to welcome us before we are given a tour of the facility by staff.  After that I’m looking forward to just sitting and watching the bears go about  their  everyday lives, ever mindful that, were it not for the unremitting dedication of AAF, these bears would have still been enduring a truly awful existence on bear-bile farms.

November 6 Market Stall

Shortly after our return to Australia we will be holding our mammoth Trash’n’Treasure stall at Camberwell Sunday Market.  Last year we raised $2000. This year is gearing up to be another big success (paws crossed), if the steady stream of goods being contributed (for sale) is any indication.

Our presence at the Market “brings the message to the people” in a very visible way, giving us the opportunity to share the stories and plights of bears like Jigsaw, as well as highlighting the extraordinary work of AAF.  Our stall offers market-goers a very tangible, yet pleasurable way of supporting the bears. Come and visit our stall on November 6th!

Stay tuned for the next update which will hopefully include pictures of You Know Who!!!

Project Sunshine

The number of orphaned cubs and wild-caught adult bears coming to the Moon Bear Rescue Centre near Hanoi has skyrocketed over the past two years, from 27 bears at the end of June 2009 to 87 today. The Vietnamese authorities want to help AAF rescue more bears but AAF’s resources are starting to feel the strain.

They urgently need to build a new bear house with outdoor enclosures so that over 30 bears still waiting in dens can run and swim in the sunshine, some for the first time in their lives.

Our direct support of Jigsaw helps free up other (donated) money so that it can be put towards the much-needed new bear facilities.