Jane Goodall left behind a legacy as an animal conservationist and a leading figure in animal welfare. She famously worked with and even lived among chimpanzees.
But prior to her death, she was the guardian of a surprising animal. At 91 years old, she helped to take care of a bear. The animal was rescued from a bile bear farm. Through Animals Asia, Goodall took care of the animal. The conservationalist named the animal Robinson. Despite her death, Goodall made sure the bear will be taken care of for the rest of its life.
The organization rescued the animal from a bile farm in Vietnam.
"The bear Jane Goodall was guardian for was rescued from a bile farm, along with five other moon bears. The six bears were lined up in cages in a cold, damp shed that must have been freezing at night at that time of year and sweltering in the hot and humid summer. As soon as Animals Asia arrived and saw the bears, they knew Robinson would be one to focus on. Missing her left front paw and most of her left hind paw, she lay in her farm cage, looking dejectedly up at the team," Animals Asia told People.
Jane Goodall On Being A Guardian
Before her death, Goodall wrote a letter about the bear and its struggles.
She wrote, "Imagine being ripped away from your mother as a child, spending fifteen years in a tiny metal-barred cage, and being jabbed almost every day with long needles. That is what happened to my bear Robinson, who was forced to suffer for years on a bile farm. I've spent my life trying to speak up for animals, and I know only too well some of the terrible pain people can inflict on them. But even I was horrified when I found out what happens to bears used for bile extraction."
She also explained why she decided to become its guardian.
"The decision to become a guardian for a rescued bile farm bear may sound small - but to me it's deeply personal. Because the bear I'm now linked to is a survivor. And the woman I named her after - Jill Robinson - has done more to end this cruelty than anyone I've met," Goodall wrote. "What gives me hope is the determination of fearless individuals to put an end to animal cruelty, and the resilience of animals themselves. Like most animals who are given another chance at a happy life, with time and care, these beautiful bears can recover."
