Bear Bile Farming: A Welfare Atrocity

Bear bile farming causes continuous severe suffering to thousands of Asiatic black bears confined in crush cages for years.

Key Facts

An estimated 20,000 Asiatic black bears are farmed for bile in China and Vietnam
Bears are kept in cages sometimes too small to stand or turn around
Bile is extracted through permanent catheters causing chronic infection and pain
Bear bile contains ursodeoxycholic acid, which can be synthesised cheaply
Most countries that once supported bear bile farming have reduced their industries under pressure

Welfare Considerations

Bear bile farming is among the most extreme examples of prolonged individual animal suffering in commercial use. Bears confined in crush cages for years develop severe physical deterioration, stereotypic behaviours, and psychological breakdown. The medical justification — bile acid use in traditional medicine — has been eliminated by cheap synthetic alternatives. The continued existence of bear bile farming reflects regulatory failure and demand persistence, not any medical necessity.

What You Can Do

Never purchase or use products containing bear bile
Support Animals Asia and the World Animal Protection bear bile campaigns
Advocate for synthetic UDCA adoption in traditional medicine communities
Report bear bile products found outside Asia to wildlife crime authorities
Support Vietnam and China government programs to close bile farms