Farmed Animals

Black Bear Welfare in Bear Bile Farming

Bear bile farming confines thousands of bears in tiny cages for decades to harvest bile through painful catheterization procedures.

Key Facts

An estimated 12,000-20,000 bears are farmed for bile in Asia
Bears are confined in cages so small they cannot stand or turn around
Bile is extracted through open wounds or catheter implantation
China, Vietnam, South Korea, Myanmar, and Laos operate bile farms
Synthetic alternatives to bear bile have existed for decades

Welfare Considerations

Bear bile farm conditions cause extreme psychological and physical suffering. Bears confined in crush cages for years develop severe stereotypic behaviors, muscle atrophy, and psychological breakdown. Bile extraction through abdominal catheters causes repeated pain and infection. The combination of social isolation, extreme confinement, and repeated painful procedures represents one of the most severe welfare abuses of any farmed animal.

What You Can Do

Oppose and avoid all products containing bear bile
Support Animals Asia and Moon Bear Rescue Centre
Advocate for bear bile farming bans across all range countries
Support traditional medicine practitioners who use synthetic alternatives