RESCUE OF BEARS IN CHINA

Early day motion 43, tabled 17 May 2005 by Andrew Rosindell (Conservative). Signed by 67 members.

That this House welcomes the progress that is being made by the Animals Asia Foundation in bringing to an end the abhorent abuse of over 7,000 bears in China which are being farmed in the most deplorable conditions for their bile, metal catheters being implanted deep into their gallbladders and fistula holes in their abdomens enabling farmers to milk the bears twice daily; recognises that bears are kept for up to 22 years in rusting, cramped cages with no room to stand up or turn around; welcomes the Chinese Government's dramatic change in policy and the fact that it is becoming increasingly supportive of charities who are working to stop the mistreatment of bears; congratulates the Animals Asia Foundation on its most recent success of saving two bears, Emma and Caesar, from 10 years of captivity in full metal jackets on a farm in Tianjin; and calls upon the British Government to do all it can to encourage the Chinese Government to bring about an end to this arcane practice.

Signatures by party: Labour 25, Liberal Democrat 18, Conservative 14, DUP 4, Plaid Cymru 2, Independent 1, Scottish National Party 1, Social Democratic and Labour Party 1, UUP 1.