Bear Bile Farming: An Abhorrent Asian Trade
PHNOM PENH
Beneath the glittering economies and rapid modernisation of Southeast Asia lurks a cruel commercial trade – bear bile farming. This activity involves the fluid being extracted from the animals’ gallbladders using crude and inhumane methods.
The Practice
Experts say bear cubs – primarily brown bears, sun or Malayan bears, and moon bears – are snatched from their mothers and kept in squalid cages by bile-farming operators to extract the fluid used in the production of traditional medicine. Despite strong international campaigns, the practice has been thriving since the 1980s in countries such as China, Laos, Vietnam, and South Korea.
Cruel Methods
According to World Animal Protection’s “Wildlife’s Not Medicine” campaign manager Evan Sun, these bears have been turned into commodities and denied basic welfare to roam free in their habitat or express much of their natural behaviour. “Bear bile farming is extremely cruel. Large amounts of bile are extracted and turned into powders, capsules, and ointments,” Sun said. “Bears in these facilities are often forced to endure painful extractions. Many are kept in tiny cages in appalling conditions for the duration of their lives, which can be up to 20 years.”
The Extraction Method
The American National Library of Medicine describes the extraction method as a “free-dripping fistula technique”, where non-veterinarians insert a catheter into bear gallbladders to drain bile. After the process, the bears are left to suffer without medical attention. Many have died from contamination or cancer.
Bear Bile and Traditional Medicine
Bear bile contains high levels of ursodeoxycholic acid, used in the treatment of liver and gallbladder conditions in humans, experts say. In traditional Asian medicine, bear bile is used to cure inflammation and fever, for detoxification, and to reduce swelling or pain.
Ending the Trade
International wildlife agencies are working tirelessly with governments to stop this illegal trade. There is, however, a silver lining to this inhumane activity: growing awareness and strict law enforcement in Vietnam and South Korea. Hanoi celebrated a milestone achievement last month when it shut down bile farms with World Animal Protection’s help.
Vietnam and South Korea
In 2005, about 4,000 bears were kept illegally in 1,390 bile farms in Vietnam. But as of last August, the numbers have dropped to 192 on 60 bear farms – a 95% reduction – following extensive awareness campaigns conducted jointly by wildlife agencies and the Vietnamese government. “This is not just a victory for the bears; it is a victory for everyone who has worked so tirelessly to protect them. We want to see every bear in Vietnam rescued and moved to a sanctuary to live the rest of their lives free from cruelty, pain, and suffering,” Sun said. “Vietnam is on the near end of bear bile farming, and South Korea also announced a victory to phase out the industry.” On January 1, South Korea will end its 40-year bear bile farming industry after decades of campaigns waged against the trade.
Conclusion
Bear bile farming is an abhorrent trade that has been thriving for decades in Southeast Asia. However, growing awareness and strict law enforcement in Vietnam and South Korea have led to significant reductions in the number of bears held in captivity. It is crucial that governments and international wildlife agencies continue to work together to end this inhumane practice and ensure that bears are protected from cruelty and suffering.
FAQs
Q: What is bear bile farming?
A: Bear bile farming is the practice of extracting fluid from the gallbladders of bears, primarily brown bears, sun or Malayan bears, and moon bears, to produce traditional medicine.
Q: Why is bear bile farming considered cruel?
A: Bear bile farming is considered cruel because bears are kept in small cages and subjected to painful extractions, which can lead to serious health problems and even death.
Q: What is being done to end bear bile farming?
A: International wildlife agencies are working with governments to stop this illegal trade. Awareness campaigns and law enforcement efforts have led to significant reductions in the number of bears held in captivity in Vietnam and South Korea.
Q: What is the future of bear bile farming?
A: Vietnam has made significant progress in ending bear bile farming, and South Korea will phase out the industry on January 1. It is crucial that governments and international wildlife agencies continue to work together to end this inhumane practice and ensure that bears are protected from cruelty and suffering.