Captive Bear Welfare: Bile Farming and Zoos

Bears in captivity face severe welfare challenges from bile farming — one of the most abusive practices in animal agriculture — and from inadequate zoo housing.

Key Facts

Approximately 10,000-20,000 bears are held on bile farms in China and Vietnam for extraction of ursodeoxycholic acid
Bile is extracted through catheters or open wounds on bears kept in crush cages that prevent any movement
Bear bile farming has been condemned by every major veterinary and animal welfare organisation globally
Zoo bears require large enclosures with access to water, digging opportunities, and complex foraging challenges
Bear bile can be replaced by synthetic ursodeoxycholic acid, which is medically equivalent and available

Welfare Considerations

Bile farming represents one of the most extreme forms of animal welfare abuse in existence. Bears are confined in tiny metal cages for years, often with open abdominal fistulas that cause chronic infection and pain. The immobility, injury, and social isolation cause profound suffering. The fact that synthetic alternatives to bear bile exist makes this suffering entirely unnecessary. In zoos, bears require large, complex environments; many existing facilities remain inadequate. Advocacy for bile farm bans and improved zoo standards are both high-priority welfare interventions.

What You Can Do

Support Animals Asia, Free The Bears, and other organisations working to end bear bile farming
Avoid Traditional Chinese Medicine products containing bear bile; synthetic alternatives exist
Advocate for national and international bans on bear bile farming
When visiting zoos, evaluate bear enclosure quality and provide feedback to management
Support investment in alternative medicines to reduce demand for bear bile