Bear Bile Farming: Welfare Impacts and Cruelty-Free Alternatives

Bear bile farming subjects thousands of bears to chronic suffering through invasive extraction procedures, despite the availability of synthetic and plant-based alternatives.

Key Facts

An estimated 10,000-20,000 bears are kept on bile farms in China, Vietnam, and Laos
Moon bears (Asiatic black bears) are the most commonly farmed species
Extraction methods include metal catheters, permanent holes in the abdomen, and free-drip techniques
Ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA), the active compound, can be synthesized or sourced from plants
Vietnam committed to phasing out bear bile farming; progress has been slow

Welfare Considerations

Farmed bears experience relentless suffering. Metal catheters and open abdominal holes cause constant pain and infection. Bears are confined to crush cages so small they cannot turn around. Many develop severe stereotypies, self-mutilation, and psychological distress. Bile extraction sessions cause acute pain and fear. Bears rescued from farms often require years of rehabilitation before they can engage in species-typical behaviors. The welfare case for abolition is overwhelming.

What You Can Do

Never purchase products containing bear bile or bile extract
Choose Traditional Chinese Medicine practitioners who explicitly avoid bear bile products
Support Animals Asia and Free the Bears in their rescue and farm closure campaigns
Advocate for CITES listing changes that tighten trade in bear bile products
Share information about cruelty-free UDCA alternatives with anyone using bear bile products