Sun Bear Welfare and Bile Farming in Southeast Asia

Sun bears are the smallest bear species, facing severe welfare crises from bile farming practices in parts of Southeast Asia, alongside habitat loss and the illegal wildlife trade.

Key Facts

Sun bears (Helarctos malayanus) are native to Southeast Asian forests and are Vulnerable
Bear bile farming involves keeping bears in crush cages with catheters inserted for bile extraction
The practice causes chronic physical and psychological suffering in confined bears
Vietnam formally banned bear bile farming in 1992 but enforcement has been incomplete
Animals Asia Foundation has rescued hundreds of bears from bile farms since 1998

Welfare Considerations

Bear bile farming causes one of the most severe and sustained welfare crises affecting any individual mammal species. Bears are confined in crush cages so small they cannot stand or turn, with open wounds from bile extraction catheters causing persistent pain and infection. The psychological suffering of highly intelligent, naturally wide-ranging animals in this level of confinement causes stereotypic behaviour, self-mutilation, and severe psychological deterioration. The welfare case for immediate and complete elimination of bear bile farming is absolute. Synthetic and herbal alternatives to bear bile are widely available and medically equivalent.

What You Can Do

Support Animals Asia Foundation and Free the Bears bear bile farming eradication campaigns
Advocate for complete enforcement of bear bile farming bans in Vietnam and Laos
Refuse to purchase traditional medicines containing bear bile ingredients
Raise awareness of bear bile farming welfare impacts with consumers of traditional medicines
Engage with governments in range countries on bear bile farming enforcement and alternative medicine promotion