The Asia for Animals conference held from 10-14 June was a truly fabulous event that saw over 350 delegates from 25 countries across the world joining together for the first time in Chengdu, China, to address and create solutions for the problems faced by animals across the Asian continent.

Through a series of panels and sessions, speakers and delegates were encouraged to "think outside of the box", a theme pioneered by main sponsor Gil Michaels, President of Animal Guardians, whose personal passion focuses on creatively ending pain and cruelty that too many animals suffer today.

The conference, held at the Kempinski, kicked off with a lion dance, welcome speeches and a special appearance by the "Madonna of Asia" superstar, singer and actress, Karen Mok. Surprise guests of honour, Animals Asia's very own Dr Dogs, showed that the best doctors in the world have wet noses and wagging tails, by providing some much-needed animal therapy to all the delegates before the conference officially began.

The first day saw a wonderful round of workshops, followed by the next three days of sessions featuring dynamic speakers from across the world, and finally a tour of Animals Asia’s sanctuary to meet some very special bears.

Please visit the Asia for Animals website, where more information and the conference presentations have been posted.

The conference was co-ordinated and hosted by Animals Asia, and generously sponsored by Animal Guardians, Animal People, Best Friends USA, Compassion in World Farming, Humane Society International, International Animal Rescue, International Fund for Animal Welfare, UK’s RSPCA, SPCA (HK) and the World Society for the Protection of Animals.

Our bear team members, (from left) Ai, Howard and Rocky, attended with their display booth of enrichment items, many of which they have designed and made themselves, to keep the bears stimulated and happy.