This weekend, Free the Bears will hold their next major fundraising event right here in Perth.
The Animal Bingo for Bears fundraiser will be hosted by Australian comedian, media personality, and Free the Bears patron, Rove McManus.
Founded in 1995 by Dr Mary Hutton OAM, the wildlife conservation organisation has spent the last 30 years helping rescue and rehabilitate over 1,000 bears, as well as protect wild bears.
What are they fundraising for?
Free the Bears Fundraising Coordinator, Sacha Dowell, describes the mission of the not-for-profit organisation as a calling to protect, preserve, and enrich the lives of bears.
“We’re about rescuing bears from around the world, particularly from the illegal wildlife trade and bear bile farming.
“You may not realise that we have the two sun bears at Perth Zoo, rescued by Free the Bears.”
Committed to rescuing some of the world’s most vulnerable bear species, including sun bears, moon bears, and sloth bears.
As well as providing ongoing care to hundreds of rehabilitated sun bears and moon bears across owned and operated sanctuaries in three different countries.
“We now focus on Cambodia, Vietnam and Laos, where we have sanctuaries in those three countries,” says Sacha.
Many of the bears rescued by Free the Bears were held captive in horrific bile farms and repeatedly milked for their bile.
A substance produced in their gallbladders and commonly used in traditional medicine practices.
“Some of the bears have been in a cage for 18 plus years; tiny cages that often could be barely bigger than the bear itself,” explains Sacha.
Free the Bears cares for their rescued bears by providing world-class veterinary care, regular maintenance of their enclosures, and nutritious food every single day.
“It’s very important to raise quite a bit of money to look after those bears, as having over 300 bears in our sanctuaries costs approximately 3,000 Australian dollars per year,” says Sacha.
In addition to continuing to rescue more bears from the illegal bear trade.
“We are up to 15 bears rescued so far this year, so that’s no small feat to rescue them and then care for them, for potentially the rest of their lives.
“For many bears it’s definitely better than living in a cage for many years, but there is still no substitute for being in the wild, that’s where all bears and wildlife should be.”
Sacha describes how the wildlife not-for-profit organisation relies solely on donations to operate.
Therefore, organise many fundraising events throughout the year to raise funds to continue their work.
“It’s so important that we continue to fundraise, like our bingo night that we have coming up, to encourage people to support us.”
This Saturday night, Free the Bears is hosting its upcoming fundraising event at the Bayswater Tennis Club, with the organisation’s patron in attendance.
“We’re very excited to have Rove as our host for the upcoming bingo, he has been involved for a long time, and he is such a brilliant supporter,” adds Sacha.
Proud celebrity patron
Free the Bears Patron, Australian comedian and media personality Rove McManus, has been involved with the charity for many years.
“I’m very proud to be a supporter for as long as I have, to the point where I have been deemed a patron; it means a lot to be associated with it,” says McManus.
Explaining how he was deeply inspired by the organisation’s founder, Dr Mary Hutton OAM, and her dedication to the cause.
“I found out it was all because of one very powerful woman who came from my hometown, and it all just seemed to make sense to want to support them.”
McManus describes that the biggest impact he has observed during his time with Free the Bears is the ongoing support from donors over the years.
“Everybody who donates makes such a difference to the life of the bears that have been taken out of the illegal wildlife trade in Southeast Asia.
“I’ve seen firsthand multiple times going back to the sanctuary, the impact that fundraising and donations have in creating these wonderful, spacious natural enclosures for the bears to live in, as naturally and harmoniously as they can.”
He adds that, through his role as patron, it is important to him to be able to say he has personally visited the sanctuaries and witnessed the work being done.
“What is still happening is animals being sold for medicine, animals being sold as illegal pets, and that’s the work that Free the Bears does, is allowing people to become aware of the treatment of these animals.
“I think sometimes being so far away it’s easy for us to be completely unaware of it.”
McManus reflects on his hopes for the future of the charity organisation and how their efforts to end the illegal bear trade will continue.
“It would be really nice to think that we can get to a point where all they are doing is caring for the bears that they have, and not having new ones constantly coming in because of the illegal wildlife trade.
“As the organisation continues, it’s just as important that we get new people in, new supporters as well, it’s about engaging with a younger generation.”
Connecting with the next generation
20-year-old Mackenzie Barnett recently participated in a two-week volunteer trip to the Free the Bears sanctuary in Vietnam.
“I am a vet student who has always dreamed of working with wildlife, and I was privileged enough to get the opportunity to work with such interesting wildlife that really needs our help.”
She adds how she wishes more people understood that wildlife rescue and rehabilitation is a long and expensive process
“Most people believe that even after rehabilitating animals, they can all be released into the wild.
“However, this is not the case as many of these severely injured animals or bears who have spent their whole life in captivity would die in the wild,” says Mackenzie.
Calling for more young people to get involved by volunteering or donating, as every contribution helps make a real difference for the wildlife of the future.
