Bear Bile Farming: A Major Welfare Crisis

Bear bile farming, practiced primarily in China, Vietnam, and South Korea, involves extracting bile from living bears through implanted catheters or open wounds, causing extreme suffering.

Key Facts

An estimated 10,000-20,000 Asiatic black bears are held on bile farms in China
Bears are often kept in tiny cages where they cannot stand or turn around for years
Bear bile contains ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) which has legitimate medical uses
Synthetic alternatives to bear bile exist and are widely available and more affordable

Welfare Considerations

Bears on bile farms endure multiple severe welfare harms: extreme physical confinement, chronic pain from surgical wounds and catheter sites, repeated extraction procedures without anesthesia, malnutrition, and profound psychological suffering. Animals develop severe stereotypic behaviors, self-mutilation, and psychological deterioration. Many bears have broken teeth, overgrown claws, and severe liver disease. Rescued bears from bile farms require years of rehabilitation. Despite available synthetic alternatives, demand persists due to cultural preferences. Vietnam has officially pledged to end the practice, and China has regulations though enforcement varies significantly.

What You Can Do

Avoid any traditional medicine products containing bear bile
Support Animals Asia and other organizations running bear rescue centers
Advocate for international pressure on bile farming countries to enforce bans
Support research into synthetic UDCA alternatives
Educate others about the availability and efficacy of synthetic alternatives to bear bile