Bile Bear

Bile Bear

Bile bears or battery bears are Asian black bears (Ursus thibetanus) kept in captivity to harvest bile, a digestive juice produced by the liver and stored in the gall bladder. When extracted, the bears’ bile is a valuable commodity for sale as an ingredient in traditional Chinese medicine. The bears are also known as moon bears because of the cream-colored crescent moon shape on their chest. The Asian black bear, the one most commonly used on bear farms, is listed as vulnerable on the World Conservation Union's (IUCN's) Red List of Threatened Animals. Bear bile collection occurs in China, South Korea, Laos and Vietnam.

Read more about Bile Bear:  History, Living Conditions, Bile Trade, Rescue Centers, Alternatives, Businesses

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