Lugarno's Jeanette Akkanen, 78, pictured with her daughter Sharon and granddaughter Mia, will spend a night in cage to raise money for bears in south-east Asia. Picture supplied

Lugarno resident Jeanette Akkanen, 78, is preparing to spend a night confined to a cage to raise funds and awareness for bears suffering in south-east Asia's illegal bile farming trade.

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The initiative is part of "Night in a Cage," a worldwide event hosted by the Free the Bears Fund. Participants spend an entire night locked in small, confined spaces to mirror the horrific conditions endured by bears that are kept in coffin-like cages to extract their bile - a practice widely condemned as cruel and unnecessary. For Mrs Akkanen, the cause is a family affair, as her daughter and granddaughter have also spent a night in a cage to support the charity.

Traditionally, her husband makes the cage. Mrs Akkanen gets as comfortable as possible during the evening, lying on her carpeted living room floor and only getting out if she must, for example, to use the bathroom. The idea is to replicate the feeling of entrapment that bears experience. Participants usually also connect online through a live feed and share their experience as the night progresses.

Jeanette Akkanen and her granddaughter Mia try the cage for comfort in preparation for Mrs Akkanen's night in cage as part of the Free the Bear Fund. Picture supplied

Mrs Akkanen has been a dedicated supporter of Free the Bears for more than 20 years. The organisation was launched three decades ago by Perth resident Mary Hutton and has since expanded to operate globally, including in Britain. While the charity initially worked to free Indian street dancing bears, its recent focus has shifted heavily toward rescuing animals from the wildlife trade and bile farms. Today, the fund operates major bear rescue sanctuaries across Laos, Cambodia, and Vietnam.

Free the Bears recently rescued 27 bears from an illegal bile farm in Laos, an operation that has placed an enormous strain on the charity's finances. The team in Laos is working frantically to purchase more land and build new dens to ensure these rescued bears can live out a much better, happier life.

Despite being illegal, the bile farming industry persists, with many bears spending years cramped in tiny cages where bile is extracted from their gallbladders via painful abdominal catheters. Funds raised through the Night in a Cage event go directly towards ending this practice and providing long-term sanctuary for the survivors.

Jeanette Akkanen will be caged to expose the cruel bear bile industry. Picture supplied