Celebrities Against Bear Bile Trade
Celebrities are calling for an end to the cruel trade in bear bile and demanding protection for the endangered Asiatic black bear.
Many well-known names have joined forces to protect the endangered Asiatic black bear (also known as the moon bear).
The species is being pushed to the brink of extinction in Vietnam through bear bile farming — a trade steeped in animal cruelty.
Sir Paul McCartney, Dame Judi Dench, Stephen Fry, Slash, Russell Crowe, Ricky Gervais, Alicia Silverstone, Mayim Bialik, William Shatner, Alan Cumming, Kesha and Joaquin Phoenix are among those campaigning to save bears held captive on Vietnamese bear farms.
What is bear bile farming?
On bear farms, moon bears are kept in captivity to extract bile from their gallbladders. According to the animal welfare organisation Animals Asia, the use of bile for medicinal purposes began in Asia in the 1980s.
And this does have its merits, the non-profit organisation points out. Bile contains a high proportion of ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA), which can be used to treat liver and gallbladder conditions in humans.
However, obtaining this substance comes at a high price. For the trade, bears must be kept in cramped cages under often unsanitary conditions. The extraction process is invasive and causes unimaginable physical and psychological suffering, Animals Asia adds.
Some bears are subjected to the “free drip” method, in which a hole is drilled into the animal’s gallbladder and repeatedly reopened. Others have their bile extracted using a needle four centimetres long.
Over 10,000 bears — mainly moon bears, but also sun bears and brown bears — are held captive on bile farms in China, with around 1,000 in Vietnam.
Is bear bile farming legal?
Bear bile farming was banned in Vietnam in 1992. However, legal loopholes have allowed producers to continue their operations. Animals are frequently poached from the wild to harvest their bile, which has devastated wild moon bear populations. They are now on the list of endangered species.
In 2017, after years of effort, the Vietnamese government signed a memorandum of understanding with Animals Asia. Under this agreement, Animals Asia was designated as a partner for the final elimination of the trade.
The charity is working to rescue the remaining moon bears in Vietnam.
The Rescue Operation
Animals Asia's Vietnamese bear rescue centre in Tam Dao is nearly at full capacity, having recently welcomed its 651st bear. Many of the rescued bears were young adults (five years old or younger) or cubs just a few months old.
The organisation is now building a second facility to accommodate the next group of rescued animals. This 12-hectare sanctuary will be located in Bach Ma National Park in central Vietnam. The charity hopes to rescue all moon bears held captive on bile farms in Vietnam by 2026.
Celebrity Support
Animals Asia has launched a petition to raise awareness of the issue and is calling on people to raise a paw for the moon bear.
Presenter and actor Fry has thrown his support behind the campaign. “The beautiful moon bear faces extinction in Vietnam if we do nothing to save them. They are bred cruelly for their bile and are often snatched from their mothers in the wild when they are still very young cubs”, he said in a statement.
Actress Dench, who is also among the signatories of the declaration, said she was proud to be part of efforts that represent a crucial step towards saving the species and restoring the lives stolen from hundreds of bears on bile farms.
She commented: “Animals Asia has committed to rescuing every single bear from every single bile farm in Vietnam. That is why I pledge my support, and I hope that thousands of people will pledge their support as well. Join me. Raise your paw for the moon bear to finally put an end to bear bile farming in Vietnam and ensure that no bear is left behind.»
