As announced in October, PHT, in collaboration with Adventure World, have been inspired by the incredible work of Animals Asia and their dedication to rescuing long suffering bile bears, and providing them life-long care and freedom in their award-winning sanctuaries, with a mission to end the suffering of the bear bile industry in Asia. To support this, PHT are now the Bear Guardian of Twilight, a once-exploited Moon bear now thriving in a new chapter of her life.
In March, the PHT Leadership Team made their way to Vietnam, to meet our beautiful bear, Twilight. It was a heartwarming experience to see her thriving in her new environment, and we are beyond proud of the partnership we’ve built with Adventure World. This journey deepened our commitment to animal welfare and the important work we are doing to support these precious creatures.
Meeting Twilight - Words by General Manager, Michelle Ashcroft.
Over a year ago now, PHT started our journey in partnership with Adventure World, to support the incredible charity of Animals Asia, and support the rescue of bears from the cruel bear bile industry.
Since 1998, their vision has been to end cruelty and restore respect for bears farmed for bile in Asia. To date, over 700 bears have been received into the care of Animals Asia, where they are rehabilitated and closely monitored with respect and kindness, in purpose-built sanctuaries, with space, dens, and a focus on engaging their body and mind, and healing their wounds and their hearts.
PHT started our support with a commitment of $20,000, to become the guardian of our beautiful Twilight, who for over 20 years had been in a cage the size of her body, and living in a cellar with no light, whilst cruelly and painfully having her bile extracted. When Animals Asia rescued her, she had never touched grass or had freedom to move, and all the hair on her head was rubbed away after she had rubbed her head on the bars in stress for 20 years. It took a long time for her to come out of her shell, and grow in confidence, but with the love, support, and kindness of the Animals Asia team, she is getting there!
Phil Hoffmann Travel’s leadership team went to visit Twilight in Vietnam for our conference in March. With excitement, emotion and hope, we entered the sanctuary gates, ready to meet our beautiful bear. We were met by founder, Jill Robinson, and her team, and given an introduction to the sanctuary, the history, their focus, and guidelines, before heading out to meet the bears. With over 180 bears in the sanctuary, there are many enclosures created, with huge spaces in beautiful environments. Bears were swinging in hammocks, upside down on ledges and foraging in the grass – all luxuries previously foreign to them. They were safe, and free, and it was truly beautiful. We saw the graveyard for bears who have been at the sanctuary and passed on, each with a photo and a story, filled with love and respect, something that became a clear foundation of the sanctuary. We made our way to the very last enclosure which held our beautiful Twilight, amongst a few others. We spent a lot of time looking over the bears in the dens, and looking out to the sanctuary, where someone pointed Twilight out at the back. As we stayed there and basked in the environment we were in, Twilight started to make her way towards us, very slowly. Over about ½ an hour she got closer and closer. The Animals Asia team told us she probably won’t come close, as it wasn’t feeding time and nothing happens in the den, so we were happy to watch her from afar, but she just kept coming, and it became clear she was walking towards us. There was a point, captured in the photo below, that I realised she was coming into the den where we were. I was bent down over the side, and whispered her name, and she looked up, right at me, at which point my heart exploded.
We went down to the den, and unafraid, she came to the fence, put her nose as far through as she could, and even reached her paw out. She looked right into our eyes – our soul actually, and there was an unspoken transfer of emotion and love, which I know she felt, and which I will remember for the rest of my life. She knew… she definitely knew! Strangely, I now miss her.
Our journey to support the bears has just begun, and we invite our valued clients on our journey with us, to make a real difference. Every client who books with us, is invited to donate $5 (or more) towards our next bear. We are already over halfway towards our next bear, and are committed to an ongoing partnership to support kindness, respect and freedom from pain and suffering for all bears. Seeing the difference firsthand was a privilege that will stay with me forever, and we invite you to join us on this journey of healing and making a difference, for those without a voice.
Now, we're on a mission to sponsor Twilight's friends, Kindness & Mua. With your support, we can help Kindness & Mua, by donating or visiting Animals Asia's Vietnam sanctuary, where love and care provide a second chance at life.
