Opposition to bear farms in China

by Earth First! Journal

Earlier this week, we re-posted a story on the suicide of a bear in captivity at a Chinese bile farm. We got several comments on the story, including one from the group Animals Asia, who has been a part of opposing these bile farms in China and Vietnam.

Animals Asia activists add a cage to the flames of burning bear bile products as a symbol of the suffering the bears endure.

Dr Jill Robinson MBE, Founder and CEO of Animals Asia comments:

“From time to time a story appears in the Chinese media about a bear that kills her cub and then herself to escape the pain of bear farming. This story has not been verified. Bears clearly suffer both physically and psychologically in the terrible conditions on farms, but we cannot confirm that such trauma resulting from bear farm captivity could lead to a mother killing her cub and then herself.”

Animals Asia’s work is aimed at bringing the practice of bear farming and the bile trade to an end. They have signed agreements with both the Chinese and Vietnamese governments to rescue 700 bears from the torture of bile farms, and bring them to their sanctuaries to live out their lives in peace and safety.

At present, Animals Asia have around 250 rescued bears at their sanctuaries in China and Vietnam and over the years, they’ve rescued a total of 350 bears. In China, they’re working with conservation leaders in Beijing as well as forestry leaders in individual provinces to close down farms and make whole provinces bear-farm free. So far, they’ve closed down 43 Chinese farms and seen 20 of mainland China’s 31 provinces become proudly bear farm-free. They also work to reduce the demand for bile in Asia by promoting affordable, effective and cruelty-free alternatives.

The group  operates a bear rescue sanctuary in China and one in Vietnam.
For more info visit their website here

For a short video on Animal Asia’s work visit  here