Tens of thousands are captured for their bile to be used in Asian medicines – or grabbed as babies to be trained as street performers.
This situation is improving after a group of Australians formed charity Free the Bears and set up four sanctuaries in Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam and India.
NSW Branch Secretary and Revesby bowler Paul Sillato says his group has now helped almost 1,000 bears but more support is needed.
The group is kicking off their fundraising year with a Comedy for a Cause night at Revesby Workers’ Club on Saturday, May 1, from 7pm, with all interested invited along to help make a difference to one of the world’s most threatened species.
The hilarious comedy show is for 18 years plus, with tickets costing $35 for adults and $20 for students.
“The care we provide to the rescued bears is ongoing starting with veterinary funds needed to remove the catheters placed in their stomachs by their captors to take out the bile, now an illegal practice,” Paul said.
“Bears are then rehabilitated but not all can be released in the wild, as if they’ve been taken early, wouldn’t know how to look for food so we care for them in the sanctuaries, all with the aim of giving them a better life.
“It costs about $3,000 a year to care for a single bear and there is no government funding.”
Tickets can be bought at the door but preference is to purchase prior to the event at comedyforacause.net/BEARS.
