Bear Bile Farming: Ending One of Asia's Most Cruel Industries

Bear bile farming causes extreme and prolonged suffering for thousands of bears across Asia. Effective alternatives exist, and the campaign to end this industry has made significant progress.

Key Facts

Approximately 10,000-20,000 bears are held in bile farms across China, Vietnam, and Korea
Bile is extracted through catheters or permanently open holes in the bears' abdomens, causing chronic infection and pain
Ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA), the active compound in bear bile, can be synthesized cheaply from plant sources
Vietnam announced a ban on bear bile farming; China has not yet committed to full elimination
Organizations including Animals Asia have rescued hundreds of bears from bile farms

Welfare Considerations

Bear bile farming causes some of the most extreme and prolonged suffering documented in any farming system. Bears are confined in small cages, often unable to stand upright or turn around, for years or decades. The bile extraction process causes recurring pain and infection. The ethical case for ending this practice is clear and the economic case is equally strong: synthetic UDCA is available, effective, and cheaper than bear bile. The persistence of bile farming is a regulatory and cultural challenge, not a lack of alternatives.

What You Can Do

Donate to Animals Asia and Free the Bears campaigns against bear bile farming
Avoid traditional medicine products containing bear bile; synthetic alternatives are available
Support organizations advocating for regulatory enforcement of bear bile farming bans
Raise awareness about the availability of plant-derived alternatives to bear bile compounds
Back diplomatic efforts pushing China toward a full bear bile farming phase-out commitment