Traditional Chinese medicine uses bile from bears to help cure heart disease, liver problems, and fever. But to get the bile from a bear, the bears are tortured.
They are forced to wear a metal vest – a circular metal band that is secured tightly around their abdomens.
They are forced to wear a metal vest – a circular metal band that is secured tightly around their abdomens.
Image Credit: Animals Asia
This vest holds a latex catheter in place to siphon out the bile directly from the bear’s gall bladder.
This vest holds a latex catheter in place to siphon out the bile directly from the bear’s gall bladder.
Image Credit: Animals Asia
Caesar, a brown bear, was rescued from a bile farm in China in 2004, by Animals Asia.
Caesar, a brown bear, was rescued from a bile farm in China in 2004, by Animals Asia.
Image Credit: Animals Asia
The founder of Animals Asia, Jill Robinson, remembers Caesar being very uncomfortable and quite miserable.
The founder of Animals Asia, Jill Robinson, remembers Caesar being very uncomfortable and quite miserable.
Image Credit: Animals Asia
Happily, Caesar survived and has thrived at Animal Asia’s Chengdu sanctuary!
Happily, Caesar survived and has thrived at Animal Asia’s Chengdu sanctuary!
Image Credit: Animals Asia
She doesn’t resemble her old self at all her fur has grown in, and she is a stunning bear! Caesar weighs a healthy 271 kgs!
She doesn’t resemble her old self at all her fur has grown in, and she is a stunning bear! Caesar weighs a healthy 271 kgs!
Image Credit: Animals Asia
Her favorite activities are digging and swimming in the sun – that does sound like a perfect life for a bear! Here she’s playing with a ball, probably for the first time in her life.
Her favorite activities are digging and swimming in the sun – that does sound like a perfect life for a bear! Here she’s playing with a ball, probably for the first time in her life.
Image Credit: Animals Asia
It is estimated that more than 10,000 bears (just in China) are still being held prisoner on bile farms.
It is estimated that more than 10,000 bears (just in China) are still being held prisoner on bile farms.
Image Credit: Animals Asia
Bear bile farming is still legal in China – only the vests have been outlawed.
Bear bile farming is still legal in China – only the vests have been outlawed.
Image Credit: Animals Asia
Steve Jackson, head of communications for Animals Asia says that while the metal vests have been outlawed, they are probably still being used.
Steve Jackson, head of communications for Animals Asia says that while the metal vests have been outlawed, they are probably still being used.
Image Credit: Animals Asia
Animals Asia will continue to work to have the barbaric practice of bear bile farming outlawed across Asia.
Animals Asia will continue to work to have the barbaric practice of bear bile farming outlawed across Asia.