Maggie Q opens park for rescued bears

SHOTLIST Television Vinh Phuc Province, 14 May 2009 1. Wide pan of Tam Dao national park 2. Mid of animal activist in moon bear costume waving 3. Various of Hollywood actress Maggie Q arriving at opening ceremony 4. Wide of opening ceremony 5. Mid of animal activist delivering speech 6. Close of Maggie Q listening 7. Mid of officials 8. Close of Maggie Q cutting ribbon, pull out to wide 9. Mid of sky 10. Wide of bear park 11. Close of sign read (English and Vietnamese) "Double Bear House" 12. Various of animal caretakers preparing food and toys for bears 13. Mid of Maggie Q looking 14. Mid of bears getting out of cages 15. Mid of bears looking for honey on ground 16. Mid of bear looking for food 17. SOUNDBITE (English) Maggie Q, actress: "As an animal activist, it is a great day. Today is a great day for the animals. You know, you are dealing with animal advocacy in Asia which is very very difficult." 18. Mid of bear licking honey on ground 19. SOUNDBITE (English) Maggie Q, actress: "Well, I have 4 movies coming up this year, so yeah, I do have a bunch of projects that you will be seeing this year and I've just finished one." 20. Close of bears eating 21. Close of Maggie Q, pan to bear park 22. Mid of bears getting back in cage 23. Wide of Tam Dao national park. STORYLINE MAGGIEQ OPENS BEAR PARK Hollywood actress Margaret Denise Quigley, better known as Maggie Q returned to her homeland Vietnam to open a park for rescued bears on Thursday (14 MAY 2009). The actress, who is half of Vietnamese descent, attended an opening ceremony to mark the launch of a semi-natural enclosure dedicated for moon bears and sun bears in Tam Dao national park. The cubs, which were confiscated from animal traffickers, were destined to spend the rest of their 20 to 30 years in tight fitted iron cages where their bile would be extracted daily. Bear farmers often extract the bitter green bile from the bears' gall bladders with syringes, then sell it to customers who usually drink it mixed with a shot of rice wine, believing it cures eye, liver and other ailments. Vietnam is the first country in Asia to make bear farming illegal. The law forbids the sale of bear meat and bile, both of which are sold in a thriving black market. Many Vietnamese believe bear bile has medicinal benefits, and bear meat is served in underground restaurants. The bear rescue centre, set up by Animal Asia Foundation - a Hong Kong based charity - a year ago, can now home up to 200 bears. To date, 26 bears have been taken into care. There are still estimated 4,000 bears in captive farms across the country. Maggie Q has twice posed for revealing photos in ads for People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) to promote animal protection and was delighted to open the centre: "As an animal activist, it is a great day. Today is a great day for the animals. You know, you are dealing with animal advocacy in Asia which is very very difficult." The actress is known for her roles in Hollywood blockbusters ''Live Free or 'Die Hard' and 'Mission Impossible 3' - she has four more movies coming out this year. You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/youtube/7c6bc414ebd5f055a3262e5a9e84b091 Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork