Wildlife

Sun Bear Bile Farming: A Welfare Crisis

Sun bears and other bear species are kept in cruel conditions on bile farms across Asia for traditional medicine, causing severe and ongoing suffering.

Key Facts

An estimated 10,000 to 20,000 bears are held on bile farms in Asia
Bile is extracted through catheters or permanent abdominal fistulas
Bears are confined in crush cages barely larger than their bodies
Sun bears are the smallest and most vulnerable bear species
Vietnam and South Korea have made progress in reducing bear farming

Welfare Considerations

Bile farming causes unrelenting physical and psychological suffering. Bears develop arthritis from permanent confinement, infections from repeated bile extraction, and severe stereotypic behaviors from psychological distress. Synthetic ursodeoxycholic acid is available and equally effective, making bile farming both cruel and medically unnecessary.

What You Can Do

Never purchase or use bear bile products
Support Animals Asia and other organizations working to end bile farming
Advocate for governments to adopt and enforce bear bile farming bans
Promote awareness of synthetic alternatives to bear bile
Donate to bear sanctuaries caring for rescued bile farm bears