Robert Marshall-Andrews

|

Medway MP and Chinese Bears

Medway MP Bob Marshall-Andrews is spearheading a parliamentary campaign to stop the horrific practice of bear farming in China.

He has laid down an Early Day Motion - a parliamentary petition -  calling upon the British Government to support a Chinese initiative to outlaw the farms which has been signed by more than 100 MPs from all parties.

The motion congratulates the Chinese Government on its progress towards ending the cruel practice which involves caging bears for many years with crude metal catheters sewn into their abdomens for 'milking' bile juice for use in so-called Chinese medicine. It also urges the British Government to take measures to support Chinese efforts to end bear farming.

Mr Marshall-Andrews, who is a trustee of the George Adamson Wildlife Trust, is working alongside campaigner Jill Robinson MBE, founder and CEO of the Animals Asia organisation based in Hong Kong.

"Jill has done tremendous work on this campaign and hopefully this parliamentary motion will assist both Governments to end this truly dreadful misuse of wild animals," he said.

"We are extremely grateful for this endorsement from British MPs and we do have the ongoing help and support of the Chinese Government. However there is a long way to go," added Jill.

Text of EDM 1308 - BEAR FARMS IN CHINA

That this House congratulates the Chinese Government and the Central Government Administration for Wildlife Protection on their progress towards ending the terrible practice of bile extraction from captive bears; notes that this practice involves the regular infliction of excruciating pain on bears kept permanently restricted in tiny cages which deny any movement and which result in crippling deformity and dementia; further notes that the medicinal properties of bear bile may now be replicated and improved by modern medicines; and urges Her Majesty's Government to take whatever measures it can to support the enlightened work of the Chinese authorities and charity associations such as Animals Asia Foundation who work for the end of this cruel farming practice and have, to date, succeeded in the rescuing and rehabilitation of 137 bears that have been released.