A busy and exciting few weeks in Chengdu with visitors from afar arriving back to back on site. Just last month we welcomed long-standing supporters Denise Kirchen and friends from Luxembourg who have, over the years, adopted no less than 25 bears and sponsored a whole bear house!

It’s true to say that Denise and our Luxembourg friends never stop thinking of new and innovative ways of helping the bears and it was wonderful to see them all in China at last, and to show them exactly how much previously farmed bears have benefited from their tireless support. Here they all are with Douglas looking on, and below, Denise rings the breakfast bell!

Denise has inspired so many people to fundraise and help bears thousands of miles away, and we all had a wonderful time – especially when so many of our “Luxembourg” bears came over curiously to the fence lines to say a friendly hello. Thank you again Denise and friends – our ambassadors for the bears.

Then, just a week later we had a lovely group of 12 supporters from Germany – and the bears were interested in new friends on site all over again. These great photos were sent to us by Claudia Pierzchot.

One kind supporter made her second visit in as many years – generous Edeltraud Rath, who has been a longtime friend of Animals Asia – and even sponsored one of our rescued bears from March 2008.

Tragically her bear, Tanja, passed away towards the end of last year and Edeltraud asked to see her grave in our Garden of Rest. Tears were shed as Edeltraud and her daughter Jasmin placed a beautiful red heart with some words of love onto the grave and said a silent prayer.

The visits above were filled with tears and laughter as we walked past bears tumbling together in play, and then stood at the site where the cages they left behind are piled together in an exhibition of twisted metal and sorrow. We never forget too how all of you reading this blog so generously support the bears that are free and help us to rescue those still waiting in agony on the farms. You are their lifeblood and bring hope to them all as our work goes on.