Bear Welfare: Bile Farming, Tourism, and Sanctuary Needs

Bears face welfare threats from bile farming, tourism exploitation, and habitat loss. Understanding these issues guides more effective advocacy and support.

Key Facts

Bear bile farming confines thousands of bears in small cages for bile extraction across Asia
Moon bear bile is used in traditional Chinese medicine despite available synthetic alternatives
AnimalsAsia and other organisations have rescued hundreds of bears from bile farms
Dancing bears — bears trained through painful methods for street performance — persist in some regions
Bear sanctuaries provide lifetime care for bears rescued from farming and performance contexts

Welfare Considerations

Bears in bile farming endure some of the most severe welfare harms documented in any captive animal system. Confined in crush cages that prevent natural movement, bile is extracted through catheters or holes permanently cut through the abdomen. Psychological and physical suffering is profound. The practice persists despite synthetic alternatives to bear bile being widely available. Conservation and welfare organisations including AnimalsAsia have campaigned effectively for farm closures in several countries. Bear sanctuaries that rescue and rehabilitate farm bears provide lifetime care for animals that cannot survive in the wild, managing complex trauma and health needs. Consumer choices to avoid products containing bear bile reduce demand for this cruel practice.

What You Can Do

Avoid all products containing bear bile or bear bile extract
Support AnimalsAsia and other organisations working to end bear bile farming
Advocate for import bans on bear bile products in your country
Donate to bear sanctuaries providing lifetime care for rescued farming bears