Jill Robinson
Encyclopedia
Jill Robinson is the founder of Animals Asia Foundation
. Born and raised in England, Robinson was always interested in the welfare of animals. As a child she volunteered verterinary offices during her school holidays. In the mid-1980s she moved to Hong Kong, it was where she began working for the International Fund for Animal Welfare, focusing on work in China and South Korea.
In 1993, Robinson visited a bear bile farm in China. According to Robinson, at the time approximately 10,000 Asiatic black bears were caged at farms similar to this one, in conditions many animal welfare groups consider horrific. At the farms, bile
is extracted from the bear's gallbladder for use in traditional Chinese medicines. According to the World Wide Fund for Nature
, only about 15,000–20,000 Asiatic black bears are alive in the wild in China, which would qualify them for the highest protection described by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species. Chinese authorities estimate that over 50,000 of the bears live in the wild, which would eliminate the necessity for higher protection.
For the next seven years, Robinson researched the way bile was used and negotiated with the Chinese government. In 2000, the Sichuan Forestry Department signed a pledge with the China Wildlife Conservation Association to release 500 bears from the bile farms with the worst conditions. This marked the first time an agency of the Chinese government had come to an official agreement with an animal welfare organization. To house the released bears, Robinson founded Animals Asia Foundation
and established a bear rescue center in Chengdu
. The foundation has since begun a similar sanctuary in Vietnam, where there are also thousands of bear bile farms.
Robinson has also been a proponent of the Doctor Dog program, which rescues stray dogs in Asia and trains them to participate in Animal-assisted therapy
.
For her work with animal welfare, in 1988 Robinson was made a Member of the British Empire (MBE) http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/queens-birthday-honours-1998-1164586.html. She has also received the Genesis Award (2002) and a Reader's Digest
Hero for Today award (1995).
Animals Asia Foundation
Animals Asia Foundation 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...
. Born and raised in England, Robinson was always interested in the welfare of animals. As a child she volunteered verterinary offices during her school holidays. In the mid-1980s she moved to Hong Kong, it was where she began working for the International Fund for Animal Welfare, focusing on work in China and South Korea.
In 1993, Robinson visited a bear bile farm in China. According to Robinson, at the time approximately 10,000 Asiatic black bears were caged at farms similar to this one, in conditions many animal welfare groups consider horrific. At the farms, bile
Bile
Bile or gall is a bitter-tasting, dark green to yellowish brown fluid, produced by the liver of most vertebrates, that aids the process of digestion of lipids in the small intestine. In many species, bile is stored in the gallbladder and upon eating is discharged into the duodenum...
is extracted from the bear's gallbladder for use in traditional Chinese medicines. According to the World Wide Fund for Nature
World Wide Fund for Nature
The World Wide Fund for Nature is an international non-governmental organization working on issues regarding the conservation, research and restoration of the environment, formerly named the World Wildlife Fund, which remains its official name in Canada and the United States...
, only about 15,000–20,000 Asiatic black bears are alive in the wild in China, which would qualify them for the highest protection described by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species. Chinese authorities estimate that over 50,000 of the bears live in the wild, which would eliminate the necessity for higher protection.
For the next seven years, Robinson researched the way bile was used and negotiated with the Chinese government. In 2000, the Sichuan Forestry Department signed a pledge with the China Wildlife Conservation Association to release 500 bears from the bile farms with the worst conditions. This marked the first time an agency of the Chinese government had come to an official agreement with an animal welfare organization. To house the released bears, Robinson founded Animals Asia Foundation
Animals Asia Foundation
Animals Asia Foundation 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...
and established a bear rescue center in Chengdu
Chengdu
Chengdu , formerly transliterated Chengtu, is the capital of Sichuan province in Southwest China. It holds sub-provincial administrative status...
. The foundation has since begun a similar sanctuary in Vietnam, where there are also thousands of bear bile farms.
Robinson has also been a proponent of the Doctor Dog program, which rescues stray dogs in Asia and trains them to participate in Animal-assisted therapy
Animal-Assisted Therapy
Animal-assisted therapy is a relatively new field of study, although the human-animal bond has existed for thousands of years. AAT is a type of therapy that involves animals as a form of treatment. The goal of AAT is to improve a patient’s social, emotional, or cognitive functioning...
.
For her work with animal welfare, in 1988 Robinson was made a Member of the British Empire (MBE) http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/queens-birthday-honours-1998-1164586.html. She has also received the Genesis Award (2002) and a Reader's Digest
Reader's Digest
Reader's Digest is a general interest family magazine, published ten times annually. Formerly based in Chappaqua, New York, its headquarters is now in New York City. It was founded in 1922, by DeWitt Wallace and Lila Bell Wallace...
Hero for Today award (1995).