Chinese Government Pardons 500 Bears

Across China, captive Asiatic black bears (also called “moon” bears) spend each lonely day with metal catheters inserted into their gallbladders, perpetually “milked” for the precious bile inside—it is a life of miserable solitary confinement in cages 6 feet long and just over 2 feet wide and 2 feet high. But thanks to Jill Robinson and the Hong Kong-based Animals Asia Foundation, 500 of the nearly 7,000 bears on such Chinese bear “farms” are being freed to a sanctuary to live the remainder of their lives at play and in peace.

Robinson and her remarkable organization have signed an agreement with the China Wildlife Conservation Association in Beijing and the Sichuan Forestry Department to close the most deplorable bear farms in Sichuan with a goal of expanding the initiative to other Chinese provinces and promoting the manufacture and use of synthetic or herbal alternatives to the application of bear bile in medicines and cosmetics.

The caged bears suffer unfathomable cruelty and endure appalling infections from the catheters. According to Robinson, “None of the bears on these farms had free access to water… small indents for the feeding tray, directly under the bears’ chins forced them to lie on their stomachs whilst eating, so that bile would be easier to extract.” Years in the cage caused horrific wounds, she states. “Most of the bears exhibited severe stereotypic behavior and many displayed head wounds from banging their heads against the bars of the cage in a pathetic attempt at stimulation, or had broken and worn down teeth from biting the cage bars.”

But now, with Robinson’s team of caregivers, the rehabilitation has begun and over 50 bears have already reached their haven. The bears are arriving at a temporary rescue center where veterinarians have begun operations to repair the gaping wounds from the steel catheters. Bears will then begin physiotherapy to strengthen their muscles so they may eventually play with their freed comrades. Appealing delicacies such as raisins, honey sandwiches or ice cream are used as positive incentives to help the bears along.

AWI shares Animals Asia Foundation’s hope that one day no bears will languish as bile machines, incarcerated and exploited daily. There is a fear that once the Chinese government allows release of these 500 bears from the “worst” farms, China will claim to have solved the problem and seek international approval to export bile from the bears who remain in the farms that have not been closed down. We will fight vigorously to prevent this from ever happening. The reality of the current situation, however, is that this is an unprecedented opportunity to improve dramatically the lives of 500 magnificent creatures who, for many years, have suffered untold misery and pain to satisfy human greed.

The Animals Asia Foundation is working towards the rescue of 500 bears. Confiscated from horrific bear farms in China, the first 63 bears were received on trucks in rusting cages. The bears ranged in age from cubs to middle and old age. Three legged Andrew, pictured here, is the first freed Moon Bear. He had to undergo surgery to mend the wound in his stomach from the steel catheter used to draw his bile. Now, he is able to live the reminder of his life in relative freedom.

Top and Middle Photos:  Andrew at the Sanctuary (top) and (middle) in transit from the bile factory. (Animals Asia Foundation)

Bottom Photo: Surgery is performed to remove metal implants and repair the bears’ degraded bodies. Months of physiotherapy and care lie ahead to restore their physical and mental health. (Animals Asia Foundation)