Asiatic black bears Jasper (front) and Pooh at Animals Asia Foundation’s sanctuary in China. Jasper spent 15 years in a crush cage being milked for bile. After months of surgery and rehabilitation, he has recovered to lead a healthy, happy life. Photo ©2010 Animals Asia Foundation
Bears
American black (Ursus americanus), Asiatic black (U. thibetanus), brown (U. arctos), polar (U. maritimus), sloth (Melursus ursinus), spectacled (Tremarctos ornatus), sun (Helarctos malayanus)
Family: Ursidae.
All eight of the world’s bear species are listed in either Appendix I or II of CITES. Several bear species have experienced dramatic population declines over the past few decades, and some are considered to be in danger of extinction. Some of the main factors fueling losses of bear species include habitat loss and illegal or unmanaged hunting—for sport, fur, medicinal use, or other purposes.32 The only bear species not hunted for its gallbladder, for use in traditional medicine, is the giant panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca, Ursidae).‡
Bear bile has been an ingredient in TCM for thousands of years, used to treat fevers and inflammation, liver disorders, convulsions and spasms, ophthalmological disorders, and various other conditions.33,34 It is sold in the form of pills and powders, ointments, lozenges, eye drops, hemorrhoid creams, wines, and teas.34,35 Bear bile contains a relatively high amount of ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA); this and other acids are considered the principle medicinal components of bear bile.33 Modern pharmacological research has shown that bear bile has antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, anti-hepatotoxic, anti-tumor, anti-convulsant, and other beneficial properties.
After realizing that the country’s wild bear populations had become severely depleted, bear farms were established in China during the 1980s.33,35 These farms, at which bile is extracted repeatedly from living, captive bears, were intended to provide a sustainable supply of medicinal bear bile and discourage further killing of wild bears. According to official government figures, approximately 7,000 bears are currently kept on farms in China. However, some non-governmental organizations (NGOs) suspect that the number is closer to 10,000, if not more. Additionally, nearly 4,000 bears are held on farms in Vietnam, where the practice is technically illegal. Around 1,400 bears are farmed in South Korea, where it is illegal to extract bile from living bears but bears can be raised for several years and then slaughtered for their gallbladders. Some bear farms have also been established in other Asian countries, such as Laos.
“We estimate that in Asia as a whole, there could be around 16,000 to 17,000 bears kept on farms,” said Jill Robinson, founder and CEO of Animals Asia Foundation, a charity organization that helps to free bears from farms and relocate them to bear sanctuaries (e-mail, September 6, 2009).
Bears on Chinese and Vietnamese farms are typically kept in small cages with barely enough room to move.35,36 Farmers extract bile by inserting catheters or hypodermic needles into the bears’ gallbladders, or they carve a hole into the bears’ abdomen and gallbladder, allowing the bile to drip out into basins under the bears’ cages. Both the close confinement and bile extraction are clearly painful to the bears, as the animals often show signs of distress and resort to biting or banging their heads against their cages. Bears typically spend around 10 years trapped in these cages, many enduring daily bile extraction.
In addition to the suffering inflicted on the bears, the products produced from these farms pose serious health concerns to consumers. Bile taken from farmed bears is frequently contaminated by blood, urine, feces, and pus.36 Further, bears that have been “milked” for their bile on such farms are likely to develop cancer. According to Robinson, “Captive bears that have never been milked for their bile almost never develop liver cancer unless they are very old, and even then, only about 10% develop it. But in previously farmed bears, we are seeing it at an alarming rate of about 35%—and we’re seeing it in young bears rescued from the farms.
“Our vets have no doubt that cancer cells must be seeping into the bile that is later consumed by people around the world,” she continued. “Surely it is time the Chinese government took this seriously. Other countries whose citizens take this bile should be asking some serious questions too.”
The existence of bear farms has also not reduced poaching of wild bear populations. Wild bears continue to be killed for their gallbladders, and some bears are taken from the wild to restock bear farms.36,37
More humane and sustainable alternatives to bear bile are readily available. Gallbladders from cattle or pigs are often promoted as substitutes.13 A synthetic version of UDCA is also widely available, used in Western medicine for dissolving gallstones.33 It has been estimated that 100,000 kg of synthetic UDCA is consumed each year in China, Japan, and South Korea, and global consumption may be double this figure. Many herbal alternatives have also been identified.
In 1994, the Association of Chinese Medicine and Philosophy and EarthCare released a report identifying 54 herbs that could be used as alternatives to bear bile. According to Robinson, such herbs included chrysanthemum (Dendranthema x grandiflorum, Asteraceae), rhubarb (Rheum x hybridum, Polygonaceae), sage (Salvia officinalis, Lamiaceae), peony (Paeonia officinalis, Paeoniaceae), verbena (Verbena officinalis, Verbenaceae), and Japanese thistle (Cirsium japonicum, Asteraceae).
In the 2002 survey of herbal practitioners from Mending the Web of Life, 46 respondents recommended alternatives to bear bile.14 One of the most frequently suggested alternatives, with 9 citations, was xia ku cao (Prunella vulgaris, Lamiaceae). Other botanicals were also recommended as replacements for specific actions of bear bile, including Paeonia lactiflora and P. suffruticosa for “clearing heat and alleviating spasms,” Ligusticum chuanxiong for alleviating pain, and Cassia obtusifolia (Fabaceae) for benefiting the eyes.
The World Society for the Protection of Animals (WSPA) published a report in 2005 listing numerous herbs considered to have some of the same indications as bear bile.38 For example, the report noted that, like bear bile, Lobelia chinensis (Campanulaceae) and Hedyotis diffusa (Rubiaceae) are used for “clearing heat and detoxifying,” Gentiana spp. is used for “clearing liver fire,” and Lycium spp. (Solanaceae) and Ligustrum lucidum (Oleaceae) are taken to “brighten eyesight through nourishing the liver.” Since releasing that report, WSPA has been encouraging traditional medicine groups worldwide to support a statement saying that there are good herbal alternatives to bear bile.
“Seventy-one traditional Asian medicine associations from 8 countries have already expressed support for the statement,” said WSPA Global Wildlife Programs Manager Chris Gee (e-mail, October 2009-January 2010). “These include 3 from within mainland China.” He added that the Korean Association of Herbologists published a report promoting herbal alternatives to bear bile in October 2009.
The 2006 report commissioned by DEFRA and IFAW, mentioned previously, also investigated plants with TCM properties and functions similar to bear bile.11 Seven herbs were identified in the report as potential alternatives to bear bile: Gardenia jasminoides (Rubiaceae) fruit, Scutellaria baicalensis (Lamiaceae) root, Coptis chinensis rhizome, Phellodendron amurense (Rutaceae) bark, Rheum palmatum (Polygonaceae) root and rhizome, Anemarrhena asphodelides (Anthericaceae) rhizome, and Andrographis paniculata (Acanthaceae) aerial parts. Additionally, 2 Kampo prescriptions were proposed as possible bear bile alternatives: Orengedokuto and Dia-Orengedokuto (both of which contain combinations of the 7 above-listed herbs).
Recent research has particularly highlighted the potential of Coptis spp. to replace bear bile. According to an article published in the Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine in 2009, extensive studies have shown that Coptis has many pharmacological actions, including antibacterial, antiviral, anti-inflammatory, anti-hypertensive, and cholesterol-lowering properties.33 The herb is considered a promising potential drug candidate for treatment of liver injury, and in vitro studies indicate that extracts of it can suppress cancer cell lines.
According to Robinson, the lead investigator of the recent Coptis research, Prof. Yibin Feng of the University of Hong Kong, explained during a 2008 symposium how he and his colleagues have been comparing extracts from 2 species of Coptis against raw bear bile and purified active ingredients from bear bile. “The tests showed Coptis to be far more effective than bear bile at killing cancer cell lines,” said Robinson. “These initial results are very exciting. Further tests are planned to compare Coptis and its extracts with bear bile for their effectiveness against a variety of liver conditions.”
Robinson noted that Prof. Feng’s research could ultimately assist in ending the bear bile industry. Some organizations, including Animals Asia Foundation and WSPA, have spent years lobbying to end bear farming and use of bear bile.
After years of lobbying and negotiations, Chinese authorities signed an agreement with Animals Asia Foundation in 2000, pledging to help end bear bile farms and rescue 500 bears. The Vietnamese government promised to help phase out bear bile farming in 2005, and it signed an agreement with Animals Asia Foundation in 2006 to help the organization rescue 200 bears. As of March 2010, Animals Asia Foundation had rescued 318 bears—266 from farms in China and 52 from Vietnam.
According to Robinson, many of China’s worst bear farms have been shut down. The Chinese government claims that there are now 68 farms in the country, down from 480 in the 1990s. However, Animals Asia Foundation believes that the actual number of Chinese bear farms is higher. “In addition, many smaller farms have been consolidated into bigger ones, so the number of bears remains roughly the same or could even be increasing,” she added.
Official figures in Vietnam indicate that the number of farmed bears has been decreasing, but Gee stated that such figures need further verification. WSPA has assisted in microchipping all bears in the country’s bear farms, to ensure that no new bears enter the industry. WSPA has also been supporting Vietnam’s Forest Protection Department in its efforts to monitor farms and punish those found breaking the law. “Progress does seem to be being made with owners of illegal bears being fined and confiscations of bears,” said Gee.
Organizations such as Animals Asia Foundation and WSPA continue to lobby the governments of bear farming nations to permanently shut down the industry, as well as lead campaigns to increase global awareness of the issue. Animals Asia Foundation initiated a new campaign in February 2010, encouraging Chinese pharmacies to pledge to never stock and supply bear bile products in the future, and WSPA launched a new webpage in March 2010, encouraging US audiences to become involved in efforts against bear farming (see sidebar).
Robinson noted that bear farms persist due to lingering demand from older consumers and because of new marketing ploys by the industry. “It’s mainly the older generation that is still using bear bile, and we’re happy to see that the younger generation is far more aware of the suffering involved and they are rejecting it,” she said. She added that the industry promotes bear bile as a cure-all and, increasingly, as the magic ingredient in products such as shampoo, toothpaste, and wine. “As the younger generation turns away from consuming bear bile, the industry looks for new ways to encourage them to take it.”
Gee noted that changing the habits of consumers requires widespread support, including support from governments. “There is a need for authorities to come out and clearly support those good alternatives to bear bile,” he stressed.
Bears
American black (Ursus americanus), Asiatic black (U. thibetanus), brown (U. arctos), polar (U. maritimus), sloth (Melursus ursinus), spectacled (Tremarctos ornatus), sun (Helarctos malayanus)
Family: Ursidae.
All eight of the world’s bear species are listed in either Appendix I or II of CITES. Several bear species have experienced dramatic population declines over the past few decades, and some are considered to be in danger of extinction. Some of the main factors fueling losses of bear species include habitat loss and illegal or unmanaged hunting—for sport, fur, medicinal use, or other purposes.32 The only bear species not hunted for its gallbladder, for use in traditional medicine, is the giant panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca, Ursidae).‡
Bear bile has been an ingredient in TCM for thousands of years, used to treat fevers and inflammation, liver disorders, convulsions and spasms, ophthalmological disorders, and various other conditions.33,34 It is sold in the form of pills and powders, ointments, lozenges, eye drops, hemorrhoid creams, wines, and teas.34,35 Bear bile contains a relatively high amount of ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA); this and other acids are considered the principle medicinal components of bear bile.33 Modern pharmacological research has shown that bear bile has antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, anti-hepatotoxic, anti-tumor, anti-convulsant, and other beneficial properties.
After realizing that the country’s wild bear populations had become severely depleted, bear farms were established in China during the 1980s.33,35 These farms, at which bile is extracted repeatedly from living, captive bears, were intended to provide a sustainable supply of medicinal bear bile and discourage further killing of wild bears. According to official government figures, approximately 7,000 bears are currently kept on farms in China. However, some non-governmental organizations (NGOs) suspect that the number is closer to 10,000, if not more. Additionally, nearly 4,000 bears are held on farms in Vietnam, where the practice is technically illegal. Around 1,400 bears are farmed in South Korea, where it is illegal to extract bile from living bears but bears can be raised for several years and then slaughtered for their gallbladders. Some bear farms have also been established in other Asian countries, such as Laos.
“We estimate that in Asia as a whole, there could be around 16,000 to 17,000 bears kept on farms,” said Jill Robinson, founder and CEO of Animals Asia Foundation, a charity organization that helps to free bears from farms and relocate them to bear sanctuaries (e-mail, September 6, 2009).
Bears on Chinese and Vietnamese farms are typically kept in small cages with barely enough room to move.35,36 Farmers extract bile by inserting catheters or hypodermic needles into the bears’ gallbladders, or they carve a hole into the bears’ abdomen and gallbladder, allowing the bile to drip out into basins under the bears’ cages. Both the close confinement and bile extraction are clearly painful to the bears, as the animals often show signs of distress and resort to biting or banging their heads against their cages. Bears typically spend around 10 years trapped in these cages, many enduring daily bile extraction.
In addition to the suffering inflicted on the bears, the products produced from these farms pose serious health concerns to consumers. Bile taken from farmed bears is frequently contaminated by blood, urine, feces, and pus.36 Further, bears that have been “milked” for their bile on such farms are likely to develop cancer. According to Robinson, “Captive bears that have never been milked for their bile almost never develop liver cancer unless they are very old, and even then, only about 10% develop it. But in previously farmed bears, we are seeing it at an alarming rate of about 35%—and we’re seeing it in young bears rescued from the farms.
“Our vets have no doubt that cancer cells must be seeping into the bile that is later consumed by people around the world,” she continued. “Surely it is time the Chinese government took this seriously. Other countries whose citizens take this bile should be asking some serious questions too.”
The existence of bear farms has also not reduced poaching of wild bear populations. Wild bears continue to be killed for their gallbladders, and some bears are taken from the wild to restock bear farms.36,37
More humane and sustainable alternatives to bear bile are readily available. Gallbladders from cattle or pigs are often promoted as substitutes.13 A synthetic version of UDCA is also widely available, used in Western medicine for dissolving gallstones.33 It has been estimated that 100,000 kg of synthetic UDCA is consumed each year in China, Japan, and South Korea, and global consumption may be double this figure. Many herbal alternatives have also been identified.
In 1994, the Association of Chinese Medicine and Philosophy and EarthCare released a report identifying 54 herbs that could be used as alternatives to bear bile. According to Robinson, such herbs included chrysanthemum (Dendranthema x grandiflorum, Asteraceae), rhubarb (Rheum x hybridum, Polygonaceae), sage (Salvia officinalis, Lamiaceae), peony (Paeonia officinalis, Paeoniaceae), verbena (Verbena officinalis, Verbenaceae), and Japanese thistle (Cirsium japonicum, Asteraceae).
In the 2002 survey of herbal practitioners from Mending the Web of Life, 46 respondents recommended alternatives to bear bile.14 One of the most frequently suggested alternatives, with 9 citations, was xia ku cao (Prunella vulgaris, Lamiaceae). Other botanicals were also recommended as replacements for specific actions of bear bile, including Paeonia lactiflora and P. suffruticosa for “clearing heat and alleviating spasms,” Ligusticum chuanxiong for alleviating pain, and Cassia obtusifolia (Fabaceae) for benefiting the eyes.
The World Society for the Protection of Animals (WSPA) published a report in 2005 listing numerous herbs considered to have some of the same indications as bear bile.38 For example, the report noted that, like bear bile, Lobelia chinensis (Campanulaceae) and Hedyotis diffusa (Rubiaceae) are used for “clearing heat and detoxifying,” Gentiana spp. is used for “clearing liver fire,” and Lycium spp. (Solanaceae) and Ligustrum lucidum (Oleaceae) are taken to “brighten eyesight through nourishing the liver.” Since releasing that report, WSPA has been encouraging traditional medicine groups worldwide to support a statement saying that there are good herbal alternatives to bear bile.
“Seventy-one traditional Asian medicine associations from 8 countries have already expressed support for the statement,” said WSPA Global Wildlife Programs Manager Chris Gee (e-mail, October 2009-January 2010). “These include 3 from within mainland China.” He added that the Korean Association of Herbologists published a report promoting herbal alternatives to bear bile in October 2009.
The 2006 report commissioned by DEFRA and IFAW, mentioned previously, also investigated plants with TCM properties and functions similar to bear bile.11 Seven herbs were identified in the report as potential alternatives to bear bile: Gardenia jasminoides (Rubiaceae) fruit, Scutellaria baicalensis (Lamiaceae) root, Coptis chinensis rhizome, Phellodendron amurense (Rutaceae) bark, Rheum palmatum (Polygonaceae) root and rhizome, Anemarrhena asphodelides (Anthericaceae) rhizome, and Andrographis paniculata (Acanthaceae) aerial parts. Additionally, 2 Kampo prescriptions were proposed as possible bear bile alternatives: Orengedokuto and Dia-Orengedokuto (both of which contain combinations of the 7 above-listed herbs).
Recent research has particularly highlighted the potential of Coptis spp. to replace bear bile. According to an article published in the Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine in 2009, extensive studies have shown that Coptis has many pharmacological actions, including antibacterial, antiviral, anti-inflammatory, anti-hypertensive, and cholesterol-lowering properties.33 The herb is considered a promising potential drug candidate for treatment of liver injury, and in vitro studies indicate that extracts of it can suppress cancer cell lines.
According to Robinson, the lead investigator of the recent Coptis research, Prof. Yibin Feng of the University of Hong Kong, explained during a 2008 symposium how he and his colleagues have been comparing extracts from 2 species of Coptis against raw bear bile and purified active ingredients from bear bile. “The tests showed Coptis to be far more effective than bear bile at killing cancer cell lines,” said Robinson. “These initial results are very exciting. Further tests are planned to compare Coptis and its extracts with bear bile for their effectiveness against a variety of liver conditions.”
Robinson noted that Prof. Feng’s research could ultimately assist in ending the bear bile industry. Some organizations, including Animals Asia Foundation and WSPA, have spent years lobbying to end bear farming and use of bear bile.
After years of lobbying and negotiations, Chinese authorities signed an agreement with Animals Asia Foundation in 2000, pledging to help end bear bile farms and rescue 500 bears. The Vietnamese government promised to help phase out bear bile farming in 2005, and it signed an agreement with Animals Asia Foundation in 2006 to help the organization rescue 200 bears. As of March 2010, Animals Asia Foundation had rescued 318 bears—266 from farms in China and 52 from Vietnam.
According to Robinson, many of China’s worst bear farms have been shut down. The Chinese government claims that there are now 68 farms in the country, down from 480 in the 1990s. However, Animals Asia Foundation believes that the actual number of Chinese bear farms is higher. “In addition, many smaller farms have been consolidated into bigger ones, so the number of bears remains roughly the same or could even be increasing,” she added.
Official figures in Vietnam indicate that the number of farmed bears has been decreasing, but Gee stated that such figures need further verification. WSPA has assisted in microchipping all bears in the country’s bear farms, to ensure that no new bears enter the industry. WSPA has also been supporting Vietnam’s Forest Protection Department in its efforts to monitor farms and punish those found breaking the law. “Progress does seem to be being made with owners of illegal bears being fined and confiscations of bears,” said Gee.
Organizations such as Animals Asia Foundation and WSPA continue to lobby the governments of bear farming nations to permanently shut down the industry, as well as lead campaigns to increase global awareness of the issue. Animals Asia Foundation initiated a new campaign in February 2010, encouraging Chinese pharmacies to pledge to never stock and supply bear bile products in the future, and WSPA launched a new webpage in March 2010, encouraging US audiences to become involved in efforts against bear farming (see sidebar).
Robinson noted that bear farms persist due to lingering demand from older consumers and because of new marketing ploys by the industry. “It’s mainly the older generation that is still using bear bile, and we’re happy to see that the younger generation is far more aware of the suffering involved and they are rejecting it,” she said. She added that the industry promotes bear bile as a cure-all and, increasingly, as the magic ingredient in products such as shampoo, toothpaste, and wine. “As the younger generation turns away from consuming bear bile, the industry looks for new ways to encourage them to take it.”
Gee noted that changing the habits of consumers requires widespread support, including support from governments. “There is a need for authorities to come out and clearly support those good alternatives to bear bile,” he stressed.
RSS Feed