Help stop bear bile farming in Asia

Did you know that across Asia, thousands of bears are suffering?

Animals Asia say that more than 10,000 bears - mostly moon bears, but also sun bears and brown bears - are kept on bile farms in China.  There are also under 2,000 in Vietnam.  You can find out more about the bile trade here.

Bile is extracted using painful invasive techniques.  These cause infection in the bears.   The practice is cruel and unnecessary, with most farmed bears being kept in tiny cages.   Some are never released, having been put into cages as cubs.  Many are suffering from dehydration, starvation and disease and tumours. 

Back in 2005, the Government of Vietnam made it illegal to extract bear bile.  Unfortunately, many bear owners continue to dodge the law.  They extract and sell bear bile illegally.

Animals Asia run bear sanctuaries in China and Vietnam.  The bears are cared for and rehabilitated, and bear teams gather key evidence of the effects of bile extraction.  The bear rescue centres provide the bears with comfortable dens and semi-natural enclosures.  Here they can be safe and life out their lives with other bears.  So far 400 farmed bears have been taken into Animal Asia's care.  The bears wellbeing and health is monitored regularly.  And the work undertaken by the teams has helped raise the profile of the cruelty involved in the bear bile farming industry.

Last November, Animals Asia found 49 bears in a pitiful state on three bear bile farms in northern Vietnam.  They were emaciated and starving.  They had open wounds and missing limbs.  And 30 have died since then, most probably from starvation.

Animals Asia are trying to rescue the remaining 23 bears.  You can sign the letter to Vietnam’s Prime Minister on the Animals Asia web site

You can also write a personal letter to Vietnam’s Prime Minister

Finally if you're looking for a gift for someone, or you just want to give your support, why not adopt Ginny the Moon Bear from Born Free?