IMAGINE MY SURPRISE WHEN I WAS NOTIFIED IN THIS MORNING’S EMAIL THAT THIS IMAGE I TOOK AT ELEPHANT NATURE PARK A FEW WEEKS AGO IS #332 IN FLICKR’S EXPLORE WHICH IS AMONG THE 500 PHOTOS CHOSEN BY FLICKR STAFF AS THE MOST INTERESTING PHOTOS OUT OF THE GABILLION LOADED BY MEMBERS THAT DAY!!!
The photo I call “LEKS SONG” is of Sangduen “Lek” Chailert who is the founder of Elephant Nature Foundation in Chiang Mai Thailand. This series of images were taken shortly after our orientation learning about how to navigate around the silent tippie toeing elephants as we enjoyed the rescue park for a full day of bathing , feeding, smooching and learning about these endangered beauties.
As a few others in our group of 10 were feeding some of the elephants (many more photos on the way) Gayle and I stood by the fencing to watch this scene in amazement. Lek slipped into the enclosure in silent elephant style, then sat under one of the two new babies and started to sing a sweet song in Thai to him. The song I chose for the video was not Lek but is a beautiful Hilltribe love song to highlight the mood of the day
I was mesmerized by this incredible human/elephant bond, and was lucky to have both my SLR and video camera on hand. This video below tells the very short story in photos and film how touching this priceless moment in time was. Lek and the baby were not 2 individual beings for those few minutes of bonding……..rather they were syncronized as ONE…moving in tandem…slowly to her sweet , soft song.
CLICK HERE TO SEE THIS VIDEO MUCH LARGER AND IN HIGH DEFINITION
or stay at the blog and click arrow below. There is audio with this video..ENJOY
ABOVE IS FOUNDER AND DIRECTOR OF AAF, JILL ROBINSON (AAF PHOTO)
These next two days are dedicated to the moonbears and the heros who work tirelessly on their behalf to save these beautiful animals from the torture of bile farming. Jill Robinson, the founder and director of AAF graciously agreed to set aside 2 days out of her insanely busy schedule to show us around and even let us sit in on any surgeries scheduled this week (bile drip catheter removals )
Photo AAF
On my list of humans who have touched my life as true heros , Jill Robinson would be among them…and WAY up on the tippy top of the list too!! Some people get weak kneed around movie stars or music artists………my idols are those like Jill and her staff who do work that not many of us could fathom ….their reward is some times no more than.a twinkle in the eye of a bear once entombed in a crush cage no bigger than the size of it’s body for it’s entire life! A tube in its abdomen dripping bile to sell at premium price as Chinese Traditonal Medicine
The metal harnesses and crush cage
When Diana and met our first moonbear Bam Bam at the Tiger Temple in Thailand in 2008 we were entranced. She was so beautiful and was found as an orphan on the Burma border and fostered to adulthood by the monks.
ABOVE IS BAM BAM AND DIANA FEEDING HER A BOTTLE OF MILK
Upon our arrival in Chengdu China about a week later, we were surfing the internet to find where we wanted our guide Mickal to bring us in town. Low and behold on a Google search we found Animals Asia Foundation and the words “moonbear rescue” after it. We asked Mickal first thing as he picked us up in the morning if he could find the place. Being the awesome guide he is and his driver Mr Li were on a mission!!!
ABOVE IS MANDALA…ONE OF THE GROUP ADOPTIONS WE DID THROUGH MY PANDARAZZI WEBSITE
After a couple of hours and a lot of pit stops asking the locals if they had heard of the place, WE FOUND IT!!! Only to be stopped at the gates by security personel that were fully prepared to turn us away (good security = safe moonbears). AAF is open by appointment and we were not on the schedule that day. There was a group of school children having a field trip that Saturday…yes the kids go to school 6 days a week. Mickal did some very good negotiating , and after showing our passports and getting the “ok” we were ushered into the Moonbear facility….THE REST IS HISTORY!!
My goal with the trip this year is to gather information and lots of photos and video to fill my photography book I am writing to benefit AAF called “Shoot for the Moon” which will be available this fall of 2010.
My aim in educating the public about moonbears is to give you all enough information to drive a passion to help , but not as much of the painful images to cause the tender hearted to turn a blind eye…. This is a charity that most certainly hurts the heart to face head on….and is very close to my own heart. Admitedly….even I can’t dwell on the powerful images of moonbears suffereing….. or I would be useless to rally others to the cause.
My art and photos are the positive energy that drive me to spend 2 days with one of my biggest heros ever and her beautiful bears!!! These next two days will most certainly be a roller coaster of emotions
Every single time I get an email saying “I didn’t know what a moonbear was until I met you” I break down and cry…all good tears of course, knowing the networking via my MISSION MOONBEAR is actually making a difference…one person at a time…and it all started with a litte bear named Bam Bam!!!
ABOVE IS A VIDEO I RECENTLY DID FROM MY 2008 AAF VISIT
Jill with Jane Goodall who named the above moonbear Mandala Photo AAF
ABOUT JILL ROBINSON
From Wikipedia
Jill Robinson is the Animals Asia Foundation Founder and CEO, Jill Robinson MBE, began tireless work within China after her horrific discovery of bear bile farming in 1993, resolutely building relationships and negotiating with government departments to bring an end to this cruel practice.
Jill’s dedication and skill in handling culturally sensitive matters led to the signing of a landmark agreement in July 2000 with the China Wildlife Conservation Association (CWCA) and the Sichuan Forestry Department (SFD). The agreement pledges to free 500 suffering Moon Bears in Sichuan and to work towards the total elimination of bear farming. Sanctioned by the Central Government Department in Beijing, this historic agreement was the first accord between the Chinese Government and any outside animal welfare organisation.
Robinson’s work has garnered increasing international recognition, including an MBE (Member of the Order of the British Empire) from Britain’s Queen Elizabeth. “Jill Robinson is an outstanding person, she’s hugely courageous,” says Virginia McKenna, founder of the Born Free Foundation. “She will inspire many young people and is a shining example to everyone.”
Photo AAF
ABOUT ANIMALS ASIA FOUNDATION
From Wikipedia
Animals Asia Foundation (AAF) is a Hong Kong-based charity that seeks to end cruelty to animals in Asia.
The AAF was founded in 1998 by Jill Robinson, who felt compelled to create the organisation after learning of the plight of the Asiatic Black Bear known as the “Moon Bear” because of the yellow crescent on its chest. Moon Bears are farmed throughout Asia for their bile, which is used in traditional Chinese medicine. The methods used in bear bile farming involve bears living up to 25 years in crush cages with metal catheters inserted into their abdomens for bile extraction or open wounds through which the bile drips.[1]
THIS IS “WATERMELON”, ANOTHER OF OUR MISSION MOONBEAR SPONSORED BEARS /Photo AAF
Animals Asia Foundation has been profiled on CNN, NPR, Animal Planet, the BBC, the National Geographic Channel, as well as in print media in several countries. Founder Jill Robinson has received numerous distinctions for her commitment to animal welfare including the 2002 Genesis Award[2], the Reader’s Digest Hero for Today Award[citation needed] and an MBE from the Queen of the United Kingdom.[citation needed]The Foundation’s headquarters is in Hong Kong with additional offices, a sanctuary and an educational centre in China, Germany, Australia, the United States and the United Kingdom.[3]
In February 2009, Animals Asia rescued a dozen malnourished, diseased Asiatic Black Bears from abusive bile-harvesting farms in southwest China. The bears were given to Animals Asia under an agreement made in 2000 with the government to save sick bears from state and illegal farms. The animals went to the foundation’s Moon Bear Rescue Center outside Chengdu, which has handled 260 freed bears since the agreement was signed. [4]
References
American Embassy in China, “Bear Bile Farming”[5]
Animal Planet, “Animals Asia Foundation”[6]
McLaughlin,K. “Freeing China’s Caged Bile Bears”, San Francisco Chronicle, April 25, 2005[7]
External links
PHOTOS ARE ALL FROM BIFENGXIA AND COURTESY PANDAS INTERNATIONAL
We have had barely a moment to catch our breath and a few zzzzzzzzzzz’s and have hit the ground running with a very early morning start for the 2 hour drive to Bifengxia Panda Base. Here is where one of my favorite champions for the Giant Panda, Suzanne Braden and her team work hand in hand with the panda center through her non profit organization PANDAS INTERNATIONAL as U.S. liaison educator and fundraiser for the Giant Pandas of Wolong/Bifengxia.
We are getting a personal tour today , hopefully by director Dr Tang (thank you Suzanne!!), and one thing we are crossing our fingers for is to hopefully get a peek and some photos of the new arrival………our very own Tai Shan from the National Zoo in DC. I’m sure you all have heard Tai arrived in China just a couple of days ago so he may be in strict quarantine still so we will be playing that by ear.
Besides trying to get a glimpse of Tai, the main focus of the day trip to Bifengxia is to take as many photos as possible for my book I am writing , to be released later in 2010. All proceeds go to the pandas of Bifengxia.
Above is a pin I designed which is attached to a card describing the book to give to interested people we meet along the way. I brought a ton of my silicone Project Panda bracelets with too for the kids!!
Below are the Teddy Bear Truffles we brought for some of the gifts too from Moonstruck Chocolates which is a local and YUMMY treat in Portland
READ MORE ABOUT BIFENGXIA AT THE WOLONG PANDA CLUB SITE
AND TODAY IS THE DAY TO SEE JUST HOW HIGH WE CAN GET OUR PANDA ADOPTION TOTAL , AS I WILL BE PICKING OUT OUR ADOPTION GROUP’S SPECIAL PANDA AT BIFENGXIA….PHOTOS TO COME SOON!
DONATE VIA PAYPAL BELOW, OR IN THE RIGHT SIDEBAR YOU CAN CLICK THE LINK TO FIND OUT MUCH MORE INFO ABOUT YOUR CHANCE TO BE A PART OF THIS UNIQUE PANDA ADOPTION ADVENTURE!!!
About The Bifengxia Base
The Bifengxia Base is situated in 8 kilometers from Ya’an City, 150 kilometers from Chengdu. It is the first scenic spot integrating natural scenic spot and eco-zoo in China, including leisure, vacation, sightseeing, and entertainment. Ecological wild animal zoo was built in 1999 in Bifeng Gorges. Former Chinese PM Zhu Rongji gave words to ecological protection in Bifeng Gorge “Ecology is our resource, our fortune and our lifeline”, when he inspected Bifeng Gorge in 2001.
For the safety and development of the captive giant panda, the State Forestry Administrative Bureau decided and invested 27.6 million RMB to build a new panda base, i.e. Ya’an Bifengxia Base of China Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda.
Ya’an Bifengxia Panda Base is located in Bifengxia Town, Ya’an City of south-west Sichuan Province. It’s a giant panda’s paradise with well captive raising, reproduction, rare wild animal rescuing and education facilities. Bifengxia base was opened in 2003 as the part of the world’s largest Giant Panda Migration. It was the biggest artificial migration of captive-bred giant panda ever seen.
The new accomplished reserve base is located in altitude of 1100m to 1800m. In the base, there are over 20 spots, such as breeding, research center and special kindergarten, hotel for panda. In there 6 kind of bamboo as panda’s favorite food are supplied. Now 16 pandas were moved to the Bifengxia base, sharing their life in luxurious villas with accompaniments of air-conditioners, toilets, independent water supply system and sport areas. Bifengxia Panda Base is arguably the best place to see pandas in the natural scenery they inhabit. Extending to about 60 square kilometers, Bifengxia has been long famous for its forest coverage, waterfalls, river and breathtaking landscapes.
Now that it has been selected as China’s latest giant panda protection base, Bifengxia has a new role to play in altering the destiny of the endangered species. Pandas will be returned to nature after they have been given relevant training in simulated wild environments. At up to 1,200 meters above sea level, Bifengxia is under the jurisdiction of Ya’an City. In the dense broadleaf forest with singing birds and murmuring streams stands a big gate with the image of a lovely giant panda carved on it, marking the entrance to Bifengxia Giant Panda Base. Walking through the gate and along the meandering mountain slope for a while, visitors can see several European-style cabins made of bricks and tiles. These are the pandas’ homes.
More than 20 spots have been set aside for panda-related activities and scientific experiments. There are dedicated grazing grounds, “kindergartens” for young pandas and even a panda hospital and research institute. Several different varieties of bamboo have been planted in the base either by the water or on the slopes. The new home for giant pandas appears like a park with a natural environment. The 16 giant pandas in the base will be raised through an outdoor method so as to encourage them to develop abilities better fitted to the natural environment.
The base will lead the world in raising pandas in this way. Upon completion of the whole project, the base will have four functional areas for grazing, offices and living quarters. This new base is a branch of the China Giant Panda Research and Conservation Center in Wolong. With vegetation coverage of 80 per cent, it is the world’s largest giant panda eco-park. It is planned that in five to seven years, the base will have 40 giant pandas in total. World’s Largest Giant Panda Park Opens The world’s largest park for giant pandas has opened in southwest China’s Sichuan Province with an initial group of 20 animals.
CLICK MAP TO SEE THE FULL REGION SURROUNDING BIFENGXIA AND YAAN
Facilities
Transportation – Xiaoxitian hotel is just in the Panda base, which is 16 km from Ya’an City and 150 km from Chengdu. There are some mini-super-markets in and around the Panda base. There are many shuttle buses to Ya’an and Chengdu City every 35 minutes.
Money issues – There is no ATM in the Panda Base, but there are many Banks of China, and several ATM machines in Ya’an and Chengdu.
Internet use – You can use the Internet in the office in the Panda base and there are many internet cafes in Ya’an city.
International Phone calls – You can make international phone calls in Ya’an city but not available in the Panda base unless you have your own cell-phone, which is relatively expensive.
Health information – There is a hospital at the Panda Base and several good hospitals in Yaan city.
Weather and Clothes – The mountain weather is changeable, and it can be much colder and rainier at Wanglang than at lower elevations. Bring extra clothes for warmth and rain protection and wear comfortable, waterproof walking shoes. Bring sunscreen for sunny days. June, July, and August receive the most rain, however, it can rain anytime. Snow is possible as early as September, but is most prevalent from November through March.
Pandas – You will receive an in-depth training on the care of Pandas and guidelines while working with the Pandas. Your trainer will answer all your questions and is very important that you do whatever the trainer requires.
China Giant Panda FAQ
How many pandas are left in the world?
China currently has about 1,000 giant pandas in the wild, most of them living on the mountains around the Sichuan Basin, southwest China according to the Ministry of Forestry.
What is the life span of a giant panda?
The average life span of the giant panda, in the wild is about 15 years, but in captivity they have been known to live well into their 20’s and rarely into their 30’s.
Why are giant pandas endangered?
Habitat encroachment and destruction are the greatest threats to the continued existence of the giant panda. This is mainly because of the demand for land and natural resources by China’s one billion plus inhabitants. In addition giant pandas are also susceptible to poaching, or illegal killing, as their dense fur carries a high price in the black markets in the Far East.
CHECK OUT THE VIDEOS AND IPADIO PHONE CASTS BELOW OFTEN, AS WE WILL BE POSTING LIVE UPDATES WHERE WE CAN FIND WIFI. OTHERWISE TONITE WE WILL BE POSTING A FULL TRAVELBLOGUE UPDATE AND IMAGES FROM THE DAYS EVENTS!!!
HAVE A PAN-TASTIC DAY MY FRIENDS!!!!!!!!!
IN THE IMMORTAL WORDS OF DR SEUSS
Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot,
nothing is going to get better. It’s not.
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I am so blessed to be surrounded by the most incredible people in my life…all of you who frequent this blog have seen the beauty and generosity here, time and time again and I love you for it. Well today I had another pleasant surprise when our friends at SCOTT PAUL WINES stepped up to the plate bigtime when I asked if they would want to donate a bottle of wine to Pandas International’s WINE GARDEN event
ON A DR. SEUSS KICK TODAY…CHINESE VERSION
You have seen me write about Scott, Martha, and their daughter Pirrie on my blog before..Most recently was their La Paulee dinner we went to. Well you have to see Martha’s reply to my request. Pirrie’s concern for the pandas REALLY touched me
Hi Sandra!
Scott and I would be happy to donate 2 bottles of our 2007 La Paulée. Pirrie saw this email and was very emphatic that we needed to raise money for the Pandas because “do you know how much bamboo they eat a day, Mom?!”
Thanks for your good work protecting this precious species so that Pirrie’s grandchildren will know what they are!
As I told Martha,I don’t often ask for donations for things (other than our joint adoption efforts) and usually just give a portion of my art sales and time to the causes I work with, but this event was the perfect venue to ask for some help when we know some rockin awesome wine makers in the Pacific NW. If you look at SCOTT PAUL WINES website you will see just how well received their wines are
.
SO HERE’S A SHOUTOUT FOR SCOTT PAUL WINES AND YOUR WONDERFUL DONATION TO HELP RAISE MONEY FOR THE PANDAS!! WHOEVER BUYS THOSE BOTTLES AT THE DINNER ARE LUCKY PANDA PATRONS INDEED!!
PIRRIE…YOU ARE NOW AN OFFICIAL PANDARAZZI MEMBER. WHEN I GO TO CHINA I WILL BE TAKING SOME PANDA PHOTOS JUST FOR YOU!!!
LEARN MORE ABOUT HOW TO DONATE SOME WINE BELOW!!
Preparations for the Black and White Extravaganza Continue
On February 20, 2010, Pandas International will be celebrating ten years of hard work to save the giant panda. Throughout the evening, Pandas International will be featuring a Wine Garden along with the Silent Auction. Each bottle will be disguised (brown-bagged) and sold for $20 and some guests will be lucky enough to pick a bottle valued at $60 – $90!
We are confident that this will make a great addition to the festivities and are looking for a little help from you, our members. We are hoping that you will consider either donating a bottle of wine (or two) valued at $15 or greater to our Wine Garden.
To avoid shipping costs, you may elect to send in a donation specifically for the Wine Garden and we will pick up the wine locally. Donors will be recognized in all event promotional materials.
We are also still looking for donated items to be featured in our Silent Auction. Your donations are a crucial part of our success and they are fully tax deductible!
If you have any questions or ideas to help us with the Black and White Extravaganza, please contact Tobi at tobi@pandasinternational.org 303-933-2365.
WE ARE ABLE TO FOSTER MEDO FOR THREE YEARS THANKS TO YOU…WOOOOOO HOOOOOO!!
Today I decided to contact Elephant Nature Foundation to see what elephants were in the Foster program currently and immediately my heart and soul was captured again by MEDO, who was one of the ellies I had taken numerous photos of in 2008. Below read her heartbreaking (but not too graphic) history before she was rescued .
I was going to wait and pick out our “foster child” when I got to the park , but in rethinking that strategy, I didn’t want to waste a moment of our precious days at the park doing money transactions and signing papers. It made sense to do this ahead of time so I can photograph and video Medo to my hearts content for us all to enjoy on the blog during the trip in February
.
Photo by Sandra Miller 2008 of Medo at Elephant Nature Park
As foster parents to Medo for 3 years you will receive updates about Medo and more photographs of this very special elephant when I receive them. I will send emails to our special little “FOSTER HERD” as I get updates, and you’ll be able to view Medo’s biography, a photo, your foster certificate, a personal report from Jodi (a long-time park volunteer and close friend of Medo) about her life and progress since she has lived at Elephant Nature Park, and information on how you can further help save the Asian elephant from extinction.
Our girl has a big family to protect her and keep her from harm!!
Congratulations to the following list of new foster parents to our Mz Medo!!!
Karen Fones,Lois Dubs, Connie Etters, Lori Love, Sandra Meyers, Kathleen Zins Deb Hethorn, Gayle DiCesare,Catherine Crooks, Mary Susan Heise,Sandra Blust, Patricia Norman, Vonnie Almand, Beverly Eagan, Elizabeth Klemick, Barbara Black, Kathy Welsh, Dana Collum,Sandra Miller…and a couple of names yet to be added
SEE BELOW TO READ MUCH MORE ABOUT OUR SPECIAL GIRL MEDO
Medo was born between 1985-1987. Her Karen-language name is a reference to her extremely handicapped condition that resulted from two horrific past incidents she has endured. Medo was rescued from a remote area near the Thai-Burma border and arrived at Elephant Nature Park in the end of June 2006, thanks to funds kindly donated by Bert Von Roemer of the Serengeti Foundation and Connie Speight of the Elephant Umbrella Fund.
By the time Medo was eight years old, logging was already banned in Thailand. Sadly the industry still flourished after that, unregulated and with poor working conditions for the elephants. At less than ten years old, Medo was put to work in the illegal logging industry. She was really too young to be doing such heavy labor, and as a result of this became a victim of a serious logging accident, in which her back right ankle was badly broken. The bone never properly set, and to this day her original injury is evident, the ankle is misshapen and enlarged.
After Medo recovered from her injury, it was obvious that she would never be able to perform heavy work for the rest of her life. At a loss as to what to do with Medo, her owner decided to sell her. The man who bought her did so with the full understanding that she could not be used for the work that was typical for elephants without such a handicap. Unfortunately, she still had to ‘earn her keep’.
Medo’s new owner decided that since she was young and healthy otherwise, he would use her as a breeding elephant. In her mid-teens, it was deemed time for her to be impregnated. With no regard to whether she and her chosen ‘mate’ were compatible, she was chained to a tree by her front two legs, feeling quite vulnerable. As Medo awaited her fate, a big bull in musth was brought over and chained next to her. Under normal conditions he might not have taken an interest in her, but soon frustration, anger, testosterone and desire all took control of him and he attacked and mounted her savagely.
Medo collapsed from the aggressiveness of his actions. As she lay there in pain and misery, no one dared to try to come to her aid, as they were fearful of the musth bull. She laid there for two days, before they could get the bull away from her and assess her injuries. It seemed that she had a dislocated spine and a broken pelvis.
Not a lot is known about her recovery, but most likely, due to the remoteness of her location, she probably never went to a hospital or had a doctor examine her. Amazingly, after a lengthy time of rest, it was determined that she could still walk, but no camp would ever want to hire an elephant in this condition. Also it was obvious that she would never be able to get pregnant due to the severity of her injuries.
When Lek found Medo, she was working for a village dragging small logs from the forest to be used for building. Lek could not let her live another day of hardship and started the negotiations to buy her. Thankfully, now she will spend the rest of her days at Elephant Nature Park free to rest and relax and socialize.
If you would like more information about the Park and the Elephant Nature Foundation’s other projects please visit
LOOK FOR THIS NEW BATIK PRINT VERY SOON ON EBAY!!!
For some reason when I look at this batik I can smell sandalwood oil. I think I must have caught the true “essence” of Thailand and the elephants and the hues. I can’t wait to go back you guys!!!!
