Bear bile farming, and the trade in gallbladders

Bear bile farming takes place mainly in China and Korea, and is a particularly cruel and sadistic industry. Young bears are snatched from the wild, and forced to live in coffin like cages, unable to move. They live this way until they die. A tube inserted into their gallbladders, collects the bile used in Chinese medicine, as well as some of our everyday products like cosmetic items and toiletries. They suffer physically and emotionally, often going insane from the fear and confinement.  

Habitat destruction and hunting has caused a dramatic reduction in the number of Asian black bears, so poachers are coming to the U.S. and killing our black bears, grizzly bears and polar bears.

While bear farming does not occur in the U.S., the trade in gallbladders does.

Join me as I speak with Adam Roberts, Executive Director of Born Free USA, about the trade in bear gallbladders in this country, and their fight to end it. For more information, visit bornfreeusa.org