In Asia, the bear is an animal which is tortured for its bile. Used in traditional Chinese medicine for its “restorative properties”, there is now a flourishing trade in bear bile. This activity is the source of a vast amount of suffering and threatens the extinction of this species, which is protected nevertheless. One Voice is acting to denounce the barbarity of the quasi-industrial exploitation of bears in China; to end poaching in India and develop actions to educate people against capturing bears in Vietnam. This will give these animals a chance to survive.
World trade in bear organs is estimated to be worth 2 billion dollars. It is a pot of gold that has encouraged certain countries, such as China or Vietnam, to open up breeding farms to meet growing demand. While bear bile has for centuries been an ingredient in traditional Chinese medicine, it is now sought for purely trade purposes for uses that have nothing to do with health (see “Bear bile: barbarism serving belief”).
Species disappearing from the natural landscape
Although bears are exploited in a closed environment, this does not mean that they are no longer being captured in their natural habitat and does not stop the traffic in wild bears, whose bile is reputed to be "more effective". The Lip bear in India – the most highly-protected on the planet -; the black bear in China – protected by the Washington convention on the trade in endangered species – ; Ursus Thibetanus and Ursus Malayanus in Vietnam – two endemic species that appear on the list of threatened animals – all of these species are disappearing from the natural landscape. To capture a cub, most of the time poachers have to kill three adults, notably the mothers who are often the first to die. Taken when they are only a few weeks old – the ideal is between 3 and 5 weeks, the cub dies in 60% of cases.
Unbearable suffering
The cubs which do survive only last a short time in captivity: the conditions in which they are held are unbearable for these animals which are deprived of their link with their mother and which need space to be able to develop. What’s more, extracting bile causes such suffering that the bears, whether wild or bred, often die after the fourth drain. The animal is then sent to the butcher, as their paws are used for an exorbitantly priced soup.
Stopping the massacre and denouncing barbarism
Convinced that only information, education and logistical help will stop the massacre, One Voice has made a commitment alongside associations or local authorities to accompany them and set up the necessary campaigns and tools. So, One Voice is leading campaigns to provide information on the dramatic situation of bears in China, which is by far the country that consumes the most and which exploits bears on a massive scale. In India, the association has joined forced with Wildlife SOS to rescue captured bears and works in close collaboration with the “Forestwatch” anti-poaching cell whose logistical equipment it funds. In Vietnam, One Voice is running awareness and education campaigns.
