Handsome Hector, the Moonbear

II hope this message finds you well, wherever you are in this wide world.

During the 20+ years I lived and worked in Asia, I had the incredible privilege of having regular contact with the phenomenal Jill Robinson, Founder and CEO of Animals Asia. Bear Necessity Korea (BNK) was a grassroots NGO rooted in passion, and we did our best to find ways to support the larger, more global organizations doing work to educate the public about the plight of moonbears and ban bile farming. Jill was someone I turned to for education, guidance, and above all, inspiration. It’s an honor to know her, and to know her is to be inspired.

A few days ago, Jill sent me an email with this majestic picture of Hector posing for the camera like a pro. I told her I strongly suspect Hector knows he’s a real looker — and my goodness, he sure is magnificent! I thought I’d take a break from the serious news content and share him with you.

I’ll never forget the first time I laid eyes on real moon bears in Korea. It was magical. BNK had teamed up with WSPA to do some field work at a facility that kept bears captive, and several of our members and I spent the day documenting the bears’ living conditions. The thing that struck me first was the sounds they make — not at all what I was expecting. While roars, grunts, and whines are part of their vocal repertoire, they mostly produced clucking, clicking, and popping sounds, which I came to understand can signal greetings or simply contentment. An entry discussing the report we produced from that day is buried somewhere in my archive, and it makes for dreary reading – as bleak as the sight of these regal creatures pacing in giant iron “hamster wheels” and surrounded by concrete and filth. I join the world in applauding Jill and Animals Asia for the unbelievably heroic work they have done to establish sanctuaries for these glorious creatures. We’ve come far too close to losing them forever. I pray we never reach that point.

In Korea, the moon bear is the mythological mother of the civilization itself, holding deep cultural significance. Seeing the bears up close — adults and babies alike — was mesmerizing. Seeing them living freely would be nothing short of magical.

Enjoy the handsome Hector! 🐻