How I helped rescue moon bears

Anne Letham-White, 52, volunteered to help save moon bears bears in China. She returned home with a new family member and a life that will never be the same.

"Everyone feels passionate about something. For me it is animal welfare and wildlife conservation. It always has been. I remember walking to school as a child, picking worms off the footpath and putting them on the grass so they wouldn’t get squashed!

"I had long been looking for a way to help end bear bile farming when I discovered the Animals Asia Foundation (AAF). I went to the volunteers section of their website to see how I could help. I had been a keeper at Auckland Zoo in the 1990s and my work with polar bears there gave me the experience (and respect for the bears) that I needed to be accepted as a volunteer in China. I went to my bank manager to raise the airfares and in 2007 I travelled to China.

"For three months I proudly supported the vets and vet nurses at the AAF Moon Bear Rescue Centre in Sichuan Province, central China. My role included helping to care for hospitalized bears and observing their behaviour. I discovered that despite Asiatic black bears being seriously endangered, they are still being farmed for their bile throughout Asia even though there are effective alternatives. There are up to 10,000 bears permanently confined in Asian bear farms. They cannot stand or move and suffer chronic pain and infection resulting from the bile extraction.

"AAF has rescued 316 of these moon bears and, once they have recovered, many learn to walk again and lead pain and disease-free lives in semi-natural enclosures. One of the most inspiring moon bears I met at the centre was Kevin. He had lost a leg when he was caught in a snare set up to capture bears for the bile farms. He was rescued after many years in confinement. Now he doesn’t let his disability stop him from doing whatever he wants. His favourite activity is grazing well above the tree protectors designed to stop bears from climbing and damaging the trees.

"My time in China changed my life. It gave me new enthusiasm for working in a field where I can make a difference to animals. I am now completing a Certificate in Animal Management – Captive Wild Animals at Unitec. I hope this will update my skills and give me the qualifications I need to return to zoo or wildlife park work.

"I also brought home a new family member. Xiao Hua (meaning Little Flower) is a dog rescued by AAF. In China she was tied up in a dark shelter on a short leash every hour of every day. Every time I look at her and see the life she has now I am so proud!

"While this is my passion, for someone else it might be preventing child abuse or cancer, surf lifesaving or providing medical care for developing countries. If everyone did something about what they care about – no matter how small – the world would be a better place, wouldn’t it?"

Interview by Rosalind Le Bas Walker.