Moon Bear Welfare in Sanctuaries and the Wild

Asiatic black bears, known as moon bears, are victims of one of the most prolonged forms of captive animal suffering — bile farming. Sanctuary rescue, rehabilitation, and wild population conservation require understanding their complex welfare needs.

Key Facts

Moon bears are kept in crush cages on bile farms in China, Vietnam, and other Asian countries for ursodeoxycholic acid extraction
An estimated 10,000-20,000 bears remain on bile farms across Asia despite legal synthetic alternatives
Bears on bile farms develop severe physical and psychological damage from decades of confinement and catheterisation
Animals International and Animals Asia have rescued thousands of bears from bile farms since the 1990s
Wild moon bear populations face hunting pressure for paws, gall bladders, and the pet trade
Rehabilitated bears can live 20-30 years in sanctuary conditions given appropriate care
Behavioural recovery from bile farm trauma takes years, with some individuals never fully recovering

Welfare Considerations

Moon bears rescued from bile farms present some of the most severe welfare cases in captive animal care. Decades of confinement in crush cages cause extreme muscle atrophy, joint damage, stereotypic rocking, and psychological trauma. Rehabilitation requires gradual reintroduction to space, social contact with other bears, foraging opportunities, and management of chronic health conditions. Despite the trauma, many bears show remarkable behavioural recovery — foraging, play, and social interaction — demonstrating their resilience. Consumer demand elimination for bear bile products, now readily replaceable with synthetic ursodeoxycholic acid, remains the most impactful intervention for reducing the welfare harm of bile farming at scale.

What You Can Do

Never purchase traditional medicine products containing bear bile — effective synthetic alternatives exist
Support Animals Asia and Animals International bear sanctuary and advocacy programs
Advocate for government action to close remaining bear bile farms in all range countries
Raise awareness that synthetic alternatives to bear bile are widely available and medically equivalent