Animals Asia

🎤 This week Heidi Quine, MSc, MBA, our recently appointed Country Director in Vietnam spoke at the Wild Animal Rescue Network (WARN) Asia Conference in Laos, which took place over 21-23 October. 🐻 WARN ASIA has been having annual meetings since 2001 with people and organisations that are involved with wildlife rescue, wildlife enforcement, wildlife medicine and more. Hosted by Free the Bears Ltd, the conference featured experts speaking on wildlife rescue, health and rehabilitation as part of this year’s theme: “Successful partnerships leading to positive outcomes for wildlife”. 🏆 Heidi’s presentation was on the topic of: Empathy, Collaboration, and Cultural Sensitivity: Partnerships for Bear and Elephant Protection in Vietnam. We’re delighted to share that she also won the title of ‘Best Presentation of the Conference’ as voted for by the conference participants! Heidi who is also a member of the WARN Executive Board said: ''It was an honour to receive the Best Presentation Award at the 2024 Wild Animal Rescue Network Conference, hosted by Free The Bears Laos, where I had the opportunity to share more about Animals Asia's approach to collaborating with diverse stakeholders. ''My overall aim was to share the Animals Asia way, in hopes that other organisations across Southeast Asia and beyond might be able to employ similar strategies to build win-win partnerships that benefit wildlife.''

Join us in Hong Kong for the Green Warrior Awards 2024 and celebrate the incredible eco-heroes making waves in sustainability! 🌿💚 📅 When: Friday, 25 October 🕕 Time: 17:30 - 19:30 📍 Where: K11 Musea, Hong Kong Get ready for an inspiring evening of recognition, innovation, and impactful conversations. Let’s come together and support the changemakers driving us toward a greener future. 🌱 Meet the nominees: 🌟 Jill Robinson MBE - Founder & CEO at Animals Asia 🌟 Maaike Steinebach - Founder & CEO at FemTech Future Limited 🌟 Roland Sharman - CEO & Founder at Hong Kong Outsider 🌟 Richard Ekkebus - Director of Culinary Operations and Food and Beverage 🌟 Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group 🌟 Anushka Purohit (She/Her/Hers) - CEO & Co-Founder of Breer 🌟 Marcy Trent Long - Founder Director of Sustainable Asia and Radio Host for Radio Television Hong Kong (RTHK) 🌟 Carla Martinesi (she/her) - Co-Founder of CHOMP 🎟️ CLAIM your Complimentary spot below: https://lu.ma/q6q9hvt4 #GreenWarriorAwards #Sustainability #EcoHeroes #GreenIsTheNewBlack #LiveMoreConsciously

🌍 With the United Nations Biodiversity Conference of the Parties COP16 Colombia starting today, what hope do we have for governments to meet the commitments they have already made and forge new pathways, prioritising the needs of animals necessary to tackle the devastating loss of biodiversity we are experiencing around the world? 🌍Animals Asia's Global Director of Animal Sentience & Welfare David Neale writes about this summit and highlights the urgent issues that CoP16 must address to drive meaningful progress in combating the devastating loss of biodiversity. #CoP16 #Biodiversity #AnimalWelfare #Conservation #Sustainability #AnimalsAsia

🎤Our founder and CEO Jill Robinson MBE will travel to Sydney next month to give attendees at the 2024 Travellers Choice Conference a first-hand account of her extraordinary work across Asia as a keynote speaker.🎤 Travellers Choice Managing Director Christian Hunter says a group of top-selling Travellers Choice members that travelled to Vietnam earlier this year as guests of Adventure World were “blown away” by our organisation and its ability to not only transform the lives of rescued animals but to work with governments and local communities to drive long-term change. He said: “It is impossible not to be touched when you hear about bears that have spent 20 years in shocking conditions finally being released into the sanctuary and walking on grass for the first time. We wanted to do something to help Jill and her passionate team spread the message and further their cause.” “Travellers Choice members are also keen to understand more about the concept of purposeful travel, and how they can cater to the growing demand among Australian consumers – particularly younger travellers – to incorporate activities in their holidays that reflect their individual values and passions.” Themed ‘Travelution’, the 2024 Travellers Choice Conference takes place from 1-3 November at the Hilton Sydney. The event will also feature dual Guinness World Record-holder James Castrission, one of Australia’s most revered adventurers, who will help members embrace the “explorer mindset”. Many thanks to Karryon: Together In Travel and Travel Talk Magazine for their insightful and moving articles on how their visit to our Vietnam Bear Rescue Centre inspired both travel agents and the 2024 Travellers Choice Conference! https://lnkd.in/ez2hDFC7 https://lnkd.in/ebNP7Ct6 For more information on Travellers Choice you can visit https://lnkd.in/gZ-Y93c [Image: Travellers Choice members visited Animals Asia sanctuary in Vietnam as guests of Adventure World]

✨ We are delighted to announce that Heidi Quine, MSc, MBA has been appointed as our new Country Director in Vietnam.✨ Heidi joined Animals Asia back in 2011, first as a Bear Team Manager at the organisation’s Chengdu Bear Rescue Centre, China (CBRC), then as Senior Bear Team Manager. Most recently she held the role of Vietnam Bear and Vet Department Director, heading up the bear care and veterinary department at the organisation’s Vietnam Bear Rescue Centre (VBRC) - the only sanctuary in the country accredited by the Global Federation of Animal Sanctuaries. Heidi and her team have rescued and cared for nearly 200 former bile bears at the sanctuary. She has already achieved so much for Animals Asia in her time with us, dedicating herself to building a culture of capacity building, fostering talent and leadership within the team. Under her leadership, a Vietnamese management team was developed, and she oversaw the launch of Animals Asia’s pioneering Vietnamese veterinary nursing internship. Constantly striving to strengthen our organisation and ensuring a sustainable future for animal welfare in Vietnam, driven by local expertise and passion. Heidi says: “As we continue to work to end bear bile farming, end elephant riding in Dak Lak, end the dog and cat meat trade and improve the welfare of captive wildlife in Vietnam, I am committed to leading our charge with courage, tenacity and respectful solutions that are win-win for people and animals. That's simply our Animals Asia Way." Our CEO and founder, Jill Robinson MBE said: “It’s been a privilege and a joy to know and work with Heidi over these past thirteen years. As someone who has grown with the organisation, showcasing our values and upholding our goals, Heidi has most notably led and developed our Bear and Vet Team in Vietnam with remarkable skills and leadership, earning the trust and admiration of everyone in Animals Asia and those who support us worldwide." You can read more about Heidi and her journey with Animals Asia so far here: https://lnkd.in/eukCBuE6 #AnimalsAsia #AnimalWelfare #Vietnam #NewRole #JobNews

🔎The recent report by Asia for Animals Coalition's Social Media Animal Cruelty Coalition (SMACC): “Spot the Scam: Unmasking Fake Animal Rescues” highlights the disturbing rise of fake rescue content on social media - where animals are deliberately endangered to stage dramatic rescues for views, likes and fraudulent donations.🔎 ❓When watching rescue content online remember 'A.R.C' and ask yourself: ❗Authenticity: Check the source of the content. If there's no legitimate organisation associated, or the account has multiple fake rescue videos, it's a red flag. ❗Reality Check: Consider what's actually happening in the video. If the same animals appear in multiple videos, or the rescue seems too perfect, it's likely fake. ❗Creation: Look at how the content was created. If the creator delays helping the animal to film the situation, or the video has multiple camera angles or heavy edits, it's likely staged. ❌Never like, share or comment as you will only add to its popularity, instead, report it. ❤️ Animal rescue missions are at the heart of our work, and a huge part of our activity to improve the lives of bears, and other species across Asia. 🐾 Our Veterinary and Behavioural Husbandry Services Director, Sarah van Herpt explains in more detail the planning, thought and logistics that go into genuine animal rescues, you can learn more in her article here. #SpotTheScam #ReportIt2EndIt #ReportFakeRescue #RealityCheck #UnmaskingFakeRescue #AsiaForAnimals #AnimalWelfare

🚨This week, the Asia for Animals Coalition's Social Media Animal Cruelty Coalition (SMACC) which we are part of with 28 more animal advocacy organisations reveals the horrifying rise of fake rescue content on social media with its new report: "Spot the Scam: Unmasking Fake Animal Rescues"🚨 💡The investigation shines a spotlight on the rising trend of fake rescue videos, where animals are drugged, abandoned, buried alive, or attacked by predators. These animals are deliberately put into dangerous and life-threatening situations, all for views, likes, shares and fraudulent donation requests. 📣 We are calling on social media companies to take decisive action against all forms of animal cruelty by implementing effective monitoring systems that swiftly detect and remove such harmful material. 👀 Read more about the investigation's findings and how you can spot and report fake rescue content online - and help to end this cruelty. #SpotTheScam #ReportIt2EndIt #ReportFakeRescue #RealityCheck #UnmaskingFakeRescue #SMACC #AsiaForAnimals

✨After almost 20 years of dedication and unwavering commitment, Tuan Bendixsen steps down as our Vietnam Country Director.✨ This marks the end of an extraordinary tenure filled with remarkable achievements that have shaped the landscape of animal welfare in Vietnam. A much loved and valued leader, colleague, and animal welfare advocate - we recognise some of his key accomplishments over the last two decades, and the lasting legacy he leaves on people and animals. Read more about Tuan's incredible story, his journey with Animals Asia, and what comes next for him. #AnimalWelfare #Vietnam #Leadership

This World Tourism Day, David Neale our Global Director of Animal Sentience and Welfare explains what a true ethical elephant experience means when you are exploring the world. He shares how you can enjoy these incredible creatures living freely in the wild, and ensure you are making the best welfare choices for them whilst travelling. "Thankfully, there are many places which have truly ‘rescued’ elephants from their lives of misery, places that allow elephants to be elephants in the company of each other and do not force them to do tricks or provide us with rides and ‘close contact experiences’. These are the places that provide true sanctuary." Learn more about our partnership with Yok Don National Park to create Vietnam's first ethical elephant tourism model. Through Animals Asia's work with the Vietnam government to rescue and care for elephants used for rides, they are now free to live out the rest of their lives in the beautiful and vast National Park where tourists can enjoy them from afar, in natural surroundings. Read the full article here. #AnimalWelfare #ElephantWelfare #WorldTourismDay #TravelWithKindness

📣 Animals Asia's founder and CEO Jill Robinson MBE and Vietnam Country Director Tuan Bendixsen OAM, PhD were delighted to speak at the 28th International Association for Bear Research and Management Conference in Edmonton, Canada. 📣 The event was established in 1968 and is a leading forum in bear research, conservation and management. This year’s theme was: “Co-existing with Bears on Dynamic Landscapes.” Filled with presentations, talks and workshops it was the perfect opportunity to delve deep into the evolving landscapes we share with bears. On behalf of Animals Asia, Jill and Tuan presented our organisation's work, and our goal to end bear bile farming as part of a wider conservation measure to protect Asiatic black bears. They explained how our holistic approach is making strides in ending bear bile farming in the country. Explaining how our collaborative and partnership-led approach, working with both government and local communities, and reducing demand by pushing forward the creation of a herbal balm as a valid, effective and welcomed replacement for bear bile is all helping to make the end of this horrific trade a reality that is in sight. Jill shared the history of bear bile farming in Vietnam, legislative challenges and strategies we have put in place to end this trade for good. Tuan then explained further the landscape in-country, and how the growing demand for bear bile used in traditional medicine resulted in an increase in wild bear poaching, which saw the numbers of bears kept on farms grow phenomenally, making our challenge even more difficult over the years. Tuan said: “It was a real pleasure to present at IBA about our ongoing strategy that sets a precedent for collaborating with stakeholders, encouraging demand reduction and education within the community.” Jill added: “We’re closing farms, rescuing bears and finally ending an industry that has seriously compromised the conservation and welfare of one of Vietnam’s wild species. We shared our clear and simple goal – until No Bear Left Behind.” #animalwelfare #bearwelfare #conservation #IBAconference