In 1993, Perth grandmother Mary Hutton started a petition at her local shopping mall after seeing a news story about the extraction of bile from a caged and traumatised Asiatic black bear. Upon learning that thousands of bears were being held in these horrifying conditions throughout Asia, Mary was compelled to act, and by 1995 she had officially formed Free the Bears Fund.Since then hundreds of adorable sun, moon and sloth bears have been rescued by Free the Bears from an existence of pain and suffering and are now safe in sanctuaries in South-East Asia and India. Mary and Free the Bears are also responsible for bringing to an end the dancing bear trade in India, an incredible feat given its long tradition.Free the Bears is the heartwarming story of how one woman's decision to make a difference has made an extraordinary impact around the world.