Barefoot bowling for bears a success

Locals were out in full force - and bare feet - to help the cause of bear cruelty as part of a recent bowling day held at Scarborough Wombarra Bowling Club. Photo: Rob Ennik, Surround Art

SCARBOROUGH Wombarra Bowling club recently hosted the first ever fundraiser in the Illawarra region to help save China and Vietnam’s tortured Moon Bears. The highly endangered bears are kept in tiny cages and “farmed” for their bile - a prized ingredient in Traditional Chinese Medicine. The bile is still highly sought despite the fact that there are a number of herbal and synthetic alternatives available. The Animals Asia Foundation (AAF) is working closely with the Chinese Government to free 500 previously tortured Moon Bears and release them into AAF’s Rescue Centre in Chengdu, where they can be rehabilitated and cared for. Volunteers in Australia are working incredibly hard to raise $160,000 this year to build a special den which will house an additional 24 bears under the Australian flag in the “Australian Bear Paradise”. To date AAF have rescued 219 bears from farms in China and are expecting the first 50 to arrive at their new sanctuary in Vietnam this September. Around 130 barefoot bowlers participated in the bowling club event on Saturday, May 26, raising close to $2500 for the Moon Bear Rescue. People who missed the fundraiser can still make a tax deductible donation by visiting www.animalsasia.org or calling 1800 666 004.