Bear Bile Farming and Welfare Crisis

Bear bile farming confines Asiatic black bears in tiny cages for decades to extract bile used in traditional medicine, representing one of the most severe documented animal welfare crises.

Key Facts

An estimated 10,000-20,000 bears are farmed for bile in China, Vietnam, and South Korea
Bears are kept in cages so small they often cannot stand or turn around for their entire lives
Bile extraction involves catheters, metal catheters, or milking through fistulas in the abdomen
Bears develop severe physical and psychological problems including self-mutilation and stereotypic behaviors
Synthetic alternatives and herbal substitutes for bear bile exist and are commercially available
Moon Bear rescue centers in China and Vietnam have rehabilitated thousands of bears from farms

Welfare Considerations

Bears on bile farms develop severe physical pathologies from their conditions: severe muscle atrophy from inability to move, dental problems from cage bar gnawing, chronic infections from bile extraction wounds, and liver pathology from the extraction process itself. Psychological distress manifests as stereotypic head-weaving, self-mutilation, and extreme responses to human approach. Bears that have been farmed for years require extensive rehabilitation before they can experience quality of life in sanctuary environments. The welfare crisis on bile farms is among the most severe documented for any captive species.

What You Can Do

Never purchase products containing bear bile including traditional medicines and wines
Support Animals Asia Foundation and Free the Bears Fund which run rescue sanctuaries
Advocate for international trade restrictions on bear bile and bile products
Donate to bear bile farm investigations and rescue operations
Share information about the availability of synthetic bear bile alternatives
Engage with traditional medicine practitioners about welfare-conscious ingredient substitution