Bear Bile Farming and Welfare | Animal Welfare Hub

Bear bile farming involves keeping bears in tiny cages to extract bile used in traditional medicine. It causes extreme and prolonged suffering and has been the subject of intensive welfare campaigns worldwide.

Key Facts

Approximately 20,000 bears are kept on bile farms in Asia, primarily in China and Vietnam
Bile extraction methods include catheterization and free-drip methods, both causing chronic pain and infection
Bears on farms show severe psychological distress including self-mutilation and stereotypic behaviors
Synthetic alternatives and herbal substitutes for bear bile exist and are accepted by many practitioners
Moon bears farmed for bile are also a threatened species under international conservation law

Welfare Considerations

Bear bile farming represents one of the most severe forms of chronic animal suffering in current practice. Bears spend their lives in cages so small they cannot stand or turn around, undergoing repeated painful procedures. The welfare case for abolition is unambiguous, and public campaigns have led to significant farm closures, though the industry persists. Consumer demand reduction in key markets remains critical.

What You Can Do

Never purchase products containing bear bile or gallbladder
Support Animals Asia and other organizations campaigning for bile farm closure
Advocate for stronger enforcement of CITES protections for moon bears
Raise awareness among those who use traditional medicine about available alternatives
Support governments that have committed to phasing out bear bile farming