Sun Bear Welfare and Bile Farming in Southeast Asia

Sun bears are the smallest bear species and are threatened by bile farming, habitat loss, and the illegal pet trade. Bile farming involves surgically implanted catheters or repeated punctures to extract bile from living bears.

Key Facts

Sun bears are listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List
Bile farming is still practised in China and Vietnam despite partial regulatory restrictions
Farmed bears are kept in small cages that prevent movement and natural behaviour
Bear bile contains ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA), now synthesised cheaply but cultural medicine demand persists
Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre in Sabah rescues and rehabilitates former captive bears

Welfare Considerations

Bile extraction through surgically implanted catheters or repeated punctures causes chronic pain, infection, and peritonitis. Bears in bile farms spend years in cages too small to stand or turn, developing severe psychological disturbance including head-bobbing, bar-biting, and self-mutilation. The availability of synthetic UDCA as an alternative makes the welfare justification for bile farming entirely without medical basis. Rescued bile farm bears show prolonged recovery periods and many never fully recover normal behaviour.

What You Can Do

Support Animals Asia Foundation Moon Bear Rescue campaigns
Donate to Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre rehabilitation programs
Never purchase traditional medicines containing bear bile; synthetic alternatives exist
Advocate for China and Vietnam to enforce existing bile farm regulations and fund alternatives
Raise awareness that synthetic UDCA is widely available and bear bile is medically unnecessary