Bear Welfare and Bile Farming in Asia

Approximately 10,000 bears are held in bile farming operations in China, Vietnam and other Asian countries. The welfare suffering is among the most severe documented in any farmed animal system.

Key Facts

Moon bears (Asiatic black bears) are most commonly farmed for bile
Bile is extracted via catheters or metal catheters implanted in the gallbladder
Bears may be confined in crush cages so small they cannot turn around for years
Farmed bears commonly develop severe stereotypic behaviour and psychological breakdown
Synthetic alternatives to bear bile exist for all medical applications that use it

Welfare Considerations

The suffering of bile-farmed bears is extreme and prolonged. Confined in tiny cages with painful implanted catheters, bears develop severe psychological distress evidenced by repetitive head-swaying, self-mutilation and complete behavioural breakdown. The existence of synthetic ursodeoxycholic acid makes bear bile farming medically unnecessary. Animals Asia and other organisations have rescued hundreds of bears into sanctuaries, but thousands remain in active farming operations.

What You Can Do

Support Animals Asia Foundation bear sanctuary and campaign work
Advocate for complete bans on bear bile farming in all Asian markets
Never purchase traditional medicine products containing bear bile
Engage with major pharmacy chains to ensure bear bile product exclusion
Donate to World Animal Protection bear welfare campaigns