Jill Robinson has been a pioneer of animal welfare in Asia since 1985, spending 28 years campaigning against the cruel bear bile industry in China and Vietnam.
Correspondingly, What is bear bile farming? What is Bear Bile Farming? Commercial ‘bear bile farming’ began in China in the 1980’s. It is a cruel farming system designed to extract bile from the gallbladders of living bears. Previous to this, bears were hunted in the wild for their gallbladder bile, which is used in traditional Chinese medicine.
How much does bear bile cost? A U.S. hunter can sell a bear gallbladder for $20 to $120, with the retail price ranging from $75 to $600.
Furthermore, Is bear bile farming illegal?
Unfortunately, bear bile farming is still completely legal in China. Although there are regulations in place aimed at curbing the worst cruelty, these are often ignored and so far there have been no prosecutions. Bears on bile farms live in isolation and cannot express any natural behaviours.
Why is it illegal to have a bear gallbladder?
In some cultures, there is the traditional belief that black bear gall bladders have medicinal powers. The Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act makes it illegal for a person to possess a black bear gall bladder that has been removed from the bear’s carcass.
Why is bear bile valuable? Bear bile has been used in traditional Asian medicine for thousands of years and contains high levels of ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) known to be useful for treating liver and gall bladder conditions. However, there are many readily available alternatives with the same medicinal properties.
Why do they take bile from bears? Bear bile contains ursodeoxycholic acid. It is purchased and consumed to treat hemorrhoids, sore throats, sores, bruising, muscle ailments, sprains, epilepsy, reduce fever, improve eyesight, break down gallstones, act as an anti-inflammatory, reduce the effects of overconsumption of alcohol, and to ‘clear’ the liver.
How much is a bear paw worth? Bear-paw soup sells for $60 to $100 per bowl as a delicacy in some Washington restaurants, officials said, and can fetch upward of $1,000 a bowl in some Asian cities. Whether it’s a « sportsman » or a poacher who puts the gall in the dealer’s hand, the transaction is illegal.
What is an alternative to bear bile?
Ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA), the active component of bear bile is used in a synthetic form in Western medicine and can serve as an alternative to bear bile in the treatment and management of certain cholestatic liver conditions.
What do the Vietnamese use bear bile for? Used to treat ailments including colds and bruises, bear bile contains ursodeoxycholic acid, which is medically proven to help dissolve gallstones and treat liver disease. Bears are poached or farmed for their bile in Laos, among other countries.
Why do Chinese want bear gallbladders?
China began farming bears to extract their bile in the 1980s. While farming was intended as a way to take pressure off wild bears being poached for their gall bladders, many consumers prefer bile from wild bears, believing it to have more medicinal strength.
What do the Chinese do with bear bile? Less than a month after taking steps to permanently ban the trade and consumption of live wild animals for food, the Chinese government has recommended using Tan Re Qing, an injection containing bear bile, to treat severe and critical COVID-19 cases.
What part of the bear is illegal?
California’s Fish and Game Code includes a provision stating that “it is unlawful to sell or purchase, or possess for sale, the meat, skin, hide, teeth, claws, or other parts of any bear in this state” and that “the possession of more than one bear gall bladder is prima facie evidence that the bear gall bladders are …
Why are black bear gallstones valuable?
It also treats certain kinds of cirrhosis. (There’s even evidence that it inhibits the growth of tumors and thus helps prevent colon cancer.) So there’s one reason why bear gallbladders are so expensive: they have serious medicinal properties, which makes them inherently valuable.
What are moon bears? Moon bears are medium-sized bears averaging 4.5 – 5.4 feet in height, and weighing 198-254 pounds. Males are larger than females, and may weigh up to 400 pounds. Moon bears are usually black or brown-black with a distinct white or yellow crescent-shape « moon » on their chest, and a white patch on their chin.
How do you stop bear bile farming? Five ways YOU can help end bear bile farming
- 1/ Tell the world. Animals Asia firmly believes that every additional person who finds out about bear bile farming brings us one step closer to ending the practice. …
- 2/ Form a Volunteer Support Group. …
- 3/ Organise an event. …
- 4/ Sign up and stay up to date. …
- 5/ Donate.
What is the difference between sun bears and moon bears?
Description: The sun bear, which is the smallest of the living bear species, can be identified by its short, sleek coat and light-colored muzzle. It also has a cream-colored, crescent-shaped chest blaze similar to that of the Asiatic black bear. Thus the two species are commonly called moon bears and sun bears.
Why are gallbladders so expensive? It also treats certain kinds of cirrhosis. (There’s even evidence that it inhibits the growth of tumors and thus helps prevent colon cancer.) So there’s one reason why bear gallbladders are so expensive: they have serious medicinal properties, which makes them inherently valuable.
What part of a bear is illegal?
4758. (a) Subject to the provisions of this code permitting the sale of domestically raised game mammals, it is unlawful to sell or purchase, or possess for sale, the meat, skin, hide, teeth, claws, or other parts of any bear in this state.
Why do poachers cut off bear paws? After several years of living in these conditions bears may not be able to produce adequate supplies of bile and are then killed. Their paws and meat are then sold as delicacies (warning: graphic images).
