Jane Goodall Became Guardian to a Bear Saved from ‘Terrible Pain’ Before Her Death, Animal Group Reveals

Jane Goodall devoted her life to protecting animals—and that commitment never wavered, even in her final months.

On Oct. 1, 2025, the Jane Goodall Institute announced that the pioneering conservationist and animal welfare advocate had died peacefully of natural causes at age 91 while on a speaking tour. Less than a year earlier, Goodall had taken on a deeply personal role: becoming the guardian of a rescued moon bear who had survived years of cruelty in the bear bile farming industry.

Goodall worked with Jill Robinson, founder of the animal welfare organization Animals Asia, to sponsor the bear’s lifelong care. Although the organization originally planned to announce Goodall’s guardianship later in 2025, it chose to delay the news out of respect following her death. Now, Animals Asia says it is honored to share the story as part of Goodall’s lasting legacy as a defender of animals.

As her guardian, Goodall was given the opportunity to name the bear. She chose the name Robinson, in tribute to Jill Robinson, a close friend and a leading figure in the fight to end bear bile farming. Through the support of the Jane Goodall Institute, Robinson’s care will be fully provided for the rest of her life—offering her peace and comfort after an extraordinarily harsh beginning.

Robinson was rescued from the bear bile industry in Vietnam, where bears are kept in small cages and subjected to repeated bile extraction. Although the practice is now banned in Vietnam, dozens of bears remain confined on former farms. Robinson endured years in captivity, missing her left front paw and most of her left hind paw, injuries believed to have been caused when she was trapped as a cub.

When Animals Asia rescued Robinson and five other moon bears from a closed bile farm, the team immediately recognized her suffering. She lay in her cage, visibly distressed, injured, and withdrawn after years of neglect. After her rescue, Robinson was transported to an Animals Asia sanctuary in Vietnam, where she arrived traumatized and in poor physical condition.

Her recovery marked a dramatic transformation. After more than 15 years in confinement, Robinson received medical treatment for her injuries, broken teeth, and skin wounds. She was moved into a spacious, green sanctuary where she could roam freely, explore, and form bonds with other bears.

The adjustment took time, but today Robinson is calm, curious, and content. She spends her days resting on grassy lawns, swimming in pools, and enjoying the companionship of her best friend, another rescued bear named Manu. With continued support from Goodall’s guardianship, Robinson is expected to thrive for the rest of her life.

Before her death, Goodall wrote an open letter explaining why she chose to become Robinson’s guardian. In it, she reflected on the bear’s traumatic past and the suffering endured by animals in bile farming operations.

Goodall described Robinson as “sassy but sweet and gentle,” noting her crooked smile and peaceful presence. Despite years of abuse, she wrote, Robinson embodied resilience and hope. Becoming her guardian, Goodall explained, was not a symbolic gesture but a deeply personal commitment—to a survivor and to the woman whose work had done so much to end this cruelty.

Goodall closed her letter by expressing hope in both human determination and animal resilience. With time, care, and compassion, she believed, animals like Robinson could heal. She also voiced her hope that every remaining bear still trapped in bile farms would one day experience the same freedom.

Animals Asia continues to work with Vietnamese authorities to rescue the last bears still living on former bile farms. The organization says it has space available in its sanctuaries and is urging farmers to surrender the remaining animals so they can live safely in protected, natural environments with proper veterinary care.

“These last bears survived the industry,” the organization says. “Now they must survive the wait.”

Those interested in learning more about Animals Asia and its efforts to end bear bile farming can visit the organization’s website.