Why are bears exploited for their bile?
Commercial bear bile farming began in the 1980's in China, where bile is painfully extracted from the gallbladders of living bears.
Endangered Asiatic black bears, known as 'moon bears' due to the distinctive cream coloured crescents on their chests, are the species of bear most commonly detained on bear bile farms in China and Vietnam.
Many captive bears are kept permanently in 'crush cages' measuring 2ft 6ins by 4ft 2ins, giving them no room to move.
Many captive bears are kept permanently in 'crush cages' giving them no room to move
Bear bile can be turned into medicinal powders, ointments, creams and capsules
By the early 1990's, there were over 400 bear farms in China alone, containing tens of thousands of suffering bears, according to Animal Asia.
The method claimed to be the most 'humane' by bile farmers, is 'free-drip' method, where bears undergo surgery to create a permanent open passage from their gallbladder through their abdomen.
The digestive juice contains Urso Deoxycholicacid (UCDA), a prized ingredient in traditional Chinese medicine, an industry which is worth £1.5 billion.
The bile is turned into powders, ointments and capsules and it has been suggested that the product can ease pain from liver disease and damages.
People also sometimes use it as an aphrodisiac or to help cure hangovers, cuts and bruises.
Bear bile can even be found in Chinese wine, 'bile teas' and ordinary household products like shampoo and toothpaste.
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