Bear Bile Farming Welfare and Alternatives

Bear bile farming - extracting bile from captive bears via surgical implants or catheters - causes severe chronic suffering and continues despite the availability of plant-based and synthetic alternatives.

Key Facts

An estimated 10,000-20,000 bears are held on bile farms primarily in China, Vietnam, and South Korea
Moon bears and sun bears are the most commonly farmed species, both of which are threatened in the wild
Bile extraction involves keeping bears in crush cages or with permanent fistula implants
Ursodeoxycholic acid, the active compound in bear bile, has been synthetically produced since the 1950s
Vietnam and South Korea have announced phased closure of bear bile farms, with implementation ongoing

Welfare Considerations

Bear bile farming causes extreme suffering across every dimension of welfare. Bears are typically confined in cages so small they cannot stand or turn around, causing severe musculoskeletal problems. Surgical implants for bile extraction cause chronic pain, infections, and abscesses. Bears on farms show severe stereotypic behaviour including repetitive swaying and head movements, indicating profound psychological distress. The justification that wild bears must be farmed to meet demand is undermined by the existence of synthetic and herbal alternatives. Welfare organisations including Animals Asia have rescued thousands of bears and operate sanctuaries providing lifetime care.

What You Can Do

Never purchase products containing bear bile and check traditional medicine ingredients carefully
Support Animals Asia and other organisations rescuing and rehabilitating bile bears
Advocate for complete bans on bear bile farming in all countries where it continues
Support awareness campaigns in markets where bear bile products are consumed
Learn about the plant-based and synthetic alternatives to bear bile