Jasper's Story: Saving Moon Bears

by Jill Robinson, Marc Bekoff, Gijsbert van Frankenhuyzen (Illustrator)

Overview

For years Jasper, a moon bear, lived a miserable existence, held captive in a cage by bear farmers in rural China. The farmers extracted the bile from Jasper's body and sold it to be used in traditional medicines. It's a horrific practice and conducted on thousands of moon bears each year. But now Jasper has the chance to be free and live a life away from pain and torture. In 2000, Animals Asia, an animal welfare organization, rescued Jasper and other captive moon bears, taking them to its Moon Bear Rescue Centre. Here veterinarians attended to the bears' wounds, hoping to give them some chance of a peaceful existence in the animal sanctuary. But after so many years of abuse Jasper's wounds, both physical and mental, are extensive. Can Jasper mend his body and mind and finally enjoy the life he was meant to live?

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781627530248
Publisher:	Sleeping Bear Press
Publication date:	04/15/2013
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	40
Lexile:	1210L (what's this?)
File size:	3 MB
Age Range:	6 - 9 Years

Editorial Reviews

Bear farmers in rural China capture bears in order to extract bile as a component of traditional medicine. In constant pain from the many operations, these Moon bears—given that name because of the crescent on their chests—live a tortured existence within the confines of a very small cage. Fortunately, people like Jill and the Animals Asia team, provide a sanctuary to many rescued bears. They know they must be careful; the bears' knowledge of humans is that they exist to hurt them. In the latest shipment of rescued bears, Jill notices Jasper, listless, with worn teeth, and injuries to his stomach. Can the veterinarians save him? In this beautifully written book about the healing strength of love and forgiveness, Jill Robinson and Marc Bekoff appeal to animal protectors everywhere, both young and old. Providing colorful illustrations throughout and detailed autobiographical information, this book about the struggles of the Moon bear will be a welcome addition to any elementary classroom. Reviewer: Bonita Herold

Children's Literature - Bonita Herold

Gr 1–4—After her first encounter with the horrific practice of bear farming in China, Robinson made it her life's work to rescue and rehabilitate as many of these abused animals as possible. She has also worked to end the cruel practice of bile extraction. Jasper's Story tells of one moon bear and how he came to symbolize the forgiveness and trust that come with love. He had been held in a tiny cage where he could neither sit nor move nor lie down for more than 10 years. At the time of his rescue, he was both physically and emotionally battered, but through the gentle care of Robinson and her helpers, he can play and interact with other bears and humans, and seems to have forgiven the cruelties that were once inflicted upon him. He sets a courageous example for both his bear companions and for his human advocates. And through the work of Robinson, bile farming is a waning practice in Asia. Poetic language and soft-toned realistic watercolor illustrations offer a story of courage and hope. Useful as a read aloud in conjunction with animal welfare and nature studies.—Eva Elisabeth VonAncken, formerly at Trinity-Pawling School, Pawling, NY

School Library Journal

Rescued and rehabilitated by the Moon Bear Rescue Centre near Chengdu, China, an endangered, abused bear becomes the ambassador for forgiveness and survival in this true story. Chinese moon bears sport a yellow band across their chests reminiscent of the crescent moon. Captured and imprisoned in small cages on bear farms, moon bears are exploited for bear bile, used in Chinese herbal medicines. When a truckload of rescued bears arrives at the Centre, caregivers notice one extremely thin, injured bear that they name Jasper. Following surgery, Jasper wakes up in a spacious cage where he can sit, stand and stretch. For the first time, he has plenty of food and water and is treated kindly. As he recovers, Jasper explores the indoor bear house and outside enclosure, where caregivers teach him to search for food, use his muscles and play. Eventually, Jasper becomes a "strong, robust, and happy bear," able to forgive and trust humans. While focusing on Jasper and his rehabilitated spirit, the text alerts readers to Chinese bear farms and the good work Animals Asia has done to rescue and provide sanctuary for moon bears. With photographic realism, the luminous illustrations enhance this moving saga of Jasper's journey, including amazing close-ups of his expressive face. Heartening peek at moon bear rescue. (author & illustrator notes) (Informational picture book. 6-10)

Kirkus Reviews