Bile, extracted from the gall bladders of live bears throughout Asia, has
been used in Traditional medicine for over three thousand years. It is believed
that bear bile can be effective in reducing fever and inflammation, and by
cooling the blood, and detoxifying the body. An ever increasing surplus of bear
bile has seen its recent inclusion in products such as tonics and shampoos that
have no basis in Traditional medicine at all.
The active ingredient in bile is ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) and bears are the
only mammals able to produce significant amounts.
UDCA, however, can be produced synthetically.
Despite this, thousands of bears are housed in cruel, inhumane conditions and
await the regular extraction of their bile through torturous methods.
The farming of bears for bile is a relatively new development. Farms were first
established in the 1980's throughout Korea, China and Vietnam.
It was thought that this farming would have a positive effect on the wild
population of bears in Asia, as bears could theoretically be bred in farms for
bile extraction, leaving the wild populations undisturbed. However, with bear
populations continuing to suffer from illegal hunting throughout many countries
in Asia since the establishment of these farms, the evidence suggests that bear
farming has had no positive impact on wild bear populations. In fact, many
consumers of wildlife products believe that wild bear gall bladders are of
higher quality than those of farmed bears, and so wild populations are being
decimated due to the trade in traditional medicine, for meat and as pets.
Wild bear populations across the globe are threatened with extinction, with
Asiatic black bears and Malayan sun bears classified by the IUCN as Vulnerable.
It is believed that illegal poaching of Asiatic black bears from Cambodia and
Laos still supplies wild caught animals to farms in Vietnam, China and Korea.
Bears sentenced to life in a bile farm are often kept in coffin sized cages that
restrict movement and allow for easier extraction of bile. Some bears are
anesthetised and bile is extracted through a huge needle, while others have
metal catheters inserted into their gall bladder and permanently held in place
by an "iron corset" to allow bile to drain as it is produced. Another method,
the 'free dripping technique', involves inserting a rod through the fistula
towards the gall bladder, which then drains its content. To prevent the fistula
from closing up the wound must be constantly re-opened - usually once or twice a
day.
Crude surgery to access the gall bladder and remove bile is also used. Poorly
trained staff and unsanitary conditions mean that bears typically do not live
longer than 3 or 4 years.In Korea, it is illegal for farmers to extract bile. Instead, bears are
slaughtered in front of paying customers to prove authenticity of gall bladders.
Some bears will be subject to the torture of bile extraction for over 10 years,
although a high percentage dies at a young age due to infections caused by the
bile extraction and poor conditions.
It is hard to comprehend that these practices even exist in the 21st Century.
Unfortunately, where there is demand for these products, the supply will
continue.
Even though farming bears and trading bear parts has been made illegal in
Vietnam, the trade still exists. The Vietnamese Government has agreed to
confiscate illegal bears in farms if sanctuaries are constructed to rehouse
these animals.
Luckily, several organisations are committed to changing the current situation
of bear bile farming. Throughout Asia, non-government organisations are rallying
for changes in policing the trade in bear products, educating the population
about the cruelty of bear farming and unnecessary use of bear bile, as well as
creating sanctuaries to house confiscated bears. These animals deserve a life of
happiness and comfort.
Free the Bears are working hard to give these bears a life free of cruelty and
stress, and full of care and love.
We hope that 2008 will bring with it the change that we all hope for.
Free the Bears have established a partnership with Vietnam based NGO Wildlife at
Risk (WAR) to work closely with southern Vietnam provincial authorities and the
Forestry Protection Department to confiscate bears from bile farms, as well as
provide education and awareness on laws and efforts to end bear bile trade and
farming.
Free the Bears and Wildlife at Risk are dedicated to ending the bile trade in
Vietnam and developing sanctuaries for rescued Asiatic black bears and sun
bears.
We have recently conducted visits to proposed sites for the new FTB/WAR Bear
Rescue Centre, in the Mekong Delta.
A suitable site has been found in Hon Dat town, Kien Giang province that is
situated on the side of Hon Me Mountain and encompasses large mango and
jackfruit trees, granite rocky outcrops and glorious views of the Bay of
Thailand. An initial 20 hectares has been allocated here, with a further 600
hectares available to us in the future.
This area is already a growing tourist area, due to its proximity to Rach Gia, a
major city and main port for tourists visiting Phu Quoc Island. Local
authorities of Kien Giang hope that the establishment of a bear rescue centre in
their province will bring funds to the local community as well as prove an
example to the rest of Vietnam on how to combat the illegal trade in bears and
bear products.
On February 20th, 2008 an agreement between FTB, WAR, Kien Giang authorities and
the local Forestry Protection Department was signed, committing to the
development of a bear rescue centre on Hon Me Mountain.
Already bears are waiting to move to this sanctuary. WAR currently houses 4
confiscated bears at their rescue centre in Cu Chi and these animals will be the
first residents of the new FTB/WAR Bear rescue centre.
But there are several thousand bears awaiting rescue. The ongoing support from
our members and donors will enable Free the Bears to provide as many of these
animals as possible with the life that they deserve. We are striving to make
this sanctuary operational as soon as possible, and look forward to the day when
Vietnamese bears can live a life of happiness and comfort. With your support, we
know that this day will come soon.
Kelly Hobbs
Vietnam Country Representative
Free the Bears Fund Inc.
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