Bear Bile Farming: An Enduring Welfare Crisis

Bear bile farming confines thousands of bears in cramped cages to extract bile through permanent catheters. Despite synthetic and herbal alternatives, the industry persists in China, Vietnam and other parts of Asia.

Key Facts

An estimated 20,000 bears — mostly Asiatic black bears — are held on bile farms in China and Vietnam
Bears are confined in crush cages too small to stand or turn, causing severe musculoskeletal problems
Bile is extracted through permanent abdominal catheters or metal jackets, causing chronic infection and pain
Bear bile contains ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA), which is now cheaply synthesized and widely available pharmaceutically
China has over 60 licensed traditional Chinese medicine products using bear bile, though herbal substitutes exist for all
Animals Asia Foundation and World Animal Protection have rescued hundreds of bears and campaigned for decades
Vietnam formally committed to phasing out bear bile farming in 2005 but enforcement has been slow

Welfare Considerations

Bear bile farming represents one of the most severe documented forms of animal suffering in agricultural settings. The welfare harms are multiple, chronic, and severe: bears confined in cages too small for normal movement develop serious musculoskeletal problems including muscle atrophy, joint disease, and bone abnormalities from years of immobility. The extraction method — permanent abdominal catheters creating a fistula into the gall bladder — causes chronic pain, infection, and inflammation. Rescued bears consistently show stereotypic behaviors, self-directed aggression, and psychological trauma that persists for years after rescue. The persistence of the industry is not attributable to genuine medical necessity: synthetic UDCA is cheaper, more consistent in quality, and pharmaceutically superior to extracted bile. The industry continues because of tradition, regulatory failure, and the commercial interests of licensed producers. International consumer pressure, trade restrictions, and consistent advocacy by animal protection organizations have made progress but have not ended the practice.

What You Can Do

Avoid products containing bear bile and check traditional medicine purchases for this ingredient
Support Animals Asia Foundation and World Animal Protection campaigns against bear bile farming
Advocate for trade restrictions on bear bile products through your government representatives
Choose synthetic UDCA medications when prescribed by doctors for liver conditions
Raise awareness that safe, effective alternatives to bear bile exist for all its traditional uses