Introducing the Free the Bears Fund
Western Australian Grandmother Mary Hutton founded Free the Bears Fund in 1995 (Charity #A1004507U)
Free The Bears Fund (FTB) is a non-for-profit organization whose aim is to protect, preserve and enrich the lives of bears through tout the world. FTB knows that the key to the future is to combine passion for our fellow man with a belief in the dignity and beauty of nature. FTB is active in several countries in south-east Asia, including Cambodia, Thailand, Vietnam, Laos, Indonesia and India, saving Sun Bears, Asiatic Black Bears and Sloth Bears.
The Fund enjoys a high profile through out Australia and Internationally, and has strong working relationships with animal welfare funds Wildlife SOS, International Animal Rescue and WildAid to name a few.
The Fund has received significant recognition with national and international television and print media over the years, including documentaries and interviews on all Australian commercial channels as well as Discovery Channel, SBS and the ABC. FTB documentaries include Dancing for a Dollar, Battle for the Bears, Unlock the Cage of Darkness and the Sun Bears of Cambodia “Before it's too late” series.
Mary Hutton has also been presented with a number of awards for her work.
These include:
- Gold Medal for the work of FTB Fund for the Sun Bears of Cambodia, presented by His Excellency Samdech Hun Se, Prime Minister of Cambodia.
- 2 Silver Plates presented by His Excellency Mr Ty Sokhun, Director General Department of Forestry & Wildlife, Cambodia for the work of FTB in the Phnom Tamao Zoological Gardens and Wildlife Rescue Centre.
- Certificate of Merit from R.S.P.C.A.
- Mary has also been one of four finalists for the Australia Day Council for ‘Australian of the Year 2006' and has been nominated for Australian of the Year in 2004 and 2007.
Last year the fund earned over AU$700,000 in donations and sponsorships – 100% of which goes directly to the Kalander Rehabilitation Program , as well as funding the operational costs of the sanctuaries in India, Cambodia, Thailand and Laos.
FTB has a small team of three dedicated staff at head office in Perth, Western Australia with volunteer branches through out Australia. Administrative costs are managed completely separately and funded through the sale of merchandise and annual membership only.
Want to know more?
Remember from Individual Donations to Corporate Sponsorships Program every little bit really goes a very long way in the pursuit of a better life for the Bears and providing the FTB Fund the necessary resources to make it happen.
Introducing our Adopted son ‘SAM'
Sam is a male Sun Bear living in Cambodia.
Sam was just two months old when he was brought to the Cambodian Sanctuary in November 2005.
Sam was hand reared in the FTB office in the Sanctuary but later was moved to the Sanctuary in January 2006, as he and his best friend Tom-Tom were destroying the furniture at the office. And, Sam had even learnt how to open the fridge.
Sam continues to live his life of ‘crime' at the Phnom Tamao Sanctuary in Cambodia.
After settling in to his new playpen at the Sanctuary and making new friends, Sam's and his new gang of accomplices have escalated to new heights with their misdemeanors. They have now been ‘charged' with incidents which include, stealing coconuts, digging escape tunnels and eating their toys! And as you can imagine Sam and his new friends are loving every minute!
You too can sponsor a bear and watch him/her grow; it's a real rewarding and enriching feeling knowing that you have made a difference no matter how small it may be in the scheme of the whole program.
But we must start somewhere, so go on check out the FTB Fund website and see how you can make a difference today!
