She may be best known for her role as the no-nonsense Mrs Patmore in Downton Abbey but actress Lesley Nicol recently suffered the loss of her husband David.
Lesley adopted the bear shortly after her husband’s death last May, when he was rescued from a tiny cage on a bear bile farm and taken to their sanctuary.
Meeting him for the first time while he was still in rehabilitation in the sanctuary, Lesley felt an instant and unexpected connection with the bear and named him 'King Darbs' after her beloved husband.
Since then, the veterinary team at Animals Asia restored King Darbs back to health, and this week Lesley met him for the first time as a safe bear, free to roam in his beautiful green parkland on the sanctuary.
In images exclusive to OK! Lesly can be seen feeding King Darbs and helping with a check-up on the bear.
Speaking about meeting King Darbs, Lesley revealed: "When my beloved husband David passed away last year, I found comfort in the most unexpected of places.
“We were both long-time supporters of Animals Asia and their incredible team had just rescued a new bear from a lifetime of cruelty.
"When I saw him in his recovery cage, I instantly felt a connection. His personality was so similar to Darbs, it was almost as though I was meeting a mirror image of him.
"I immediately adopted him and named him King Darbs, after my husband’s nickname."
The Animal Asia ambassador added: "It was wonderful to have the pleasure of meeting him again, safe and healthy for the first time, living his life to the full, and knowing that not only have I been part of his healing journey but he has been part of mine.
"Now together, we can and must make sure every last bile farm bear has the freedom, healing, and happiness in life they deserve."
Lesley isn't the only star supporting the campaign as Dame Judi Dench sponsors a bear called Finty, named after her daughter, Peter Egan sponsors a bear named Peter and Slash sponsors a bear called Slash.
Ricky Gervais sponsored a bear he named Derek, who sadly died in June this year.
Lesley and the other celebrities are urging the public to get behind Animals Asia as the charity attempts to rescue the final 300 bears still suffering on bile farms across Vietnam.
These bears are trapped in cages barely bigger than themselves, unable to turn around or stand on all fours. They exist in unimaginable pain, subjected to repeated bile extractions for use in traditional medicine.
Animals Asia plans to rescue five bears every month over the coming year, with the last bears to be saved and living happily in their new sanctuary by the end of 2026.
Anyone who wants support the No Bear Left Behind campaign to rescue Vietnam’s final caged bears can find out more at animalsasia.org
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