Although 53 shops recognise the sale of bear parts and products is illegal in North America, bear bile products were sold in 51 of 65 shops in the WSPA survey.
Why is bear gallbladder illegal?
Bear-bile farming has been widely condemned for being inhumane. The bears are often kept in cages so small they cannot turn around or stand up. Neglect and disease are common. The extraction of bile is invasive and often painful.25 feb 2019
What countries have bear bile farms?
It is estimated that 12,000 bears are farmed for bile in China, South Korea, Laos, Vietnam, and Myanmar. Demand for the bile has been found in those nations as well as in some others, such as Malaysia and Japan.
How much is a Bears gallbladder worth?
A U.S. hunter can sell a bear gallbladder for $20 to $120, with the retail price ranging from $75 to $600. Paws fetch $25 to $60 each, while a carcass or hide can range from $200 to $1,500, according to the World Wildlife Fund.9 oct 1994
Why are bear gall bladders valuable?
Bear gallbladders have a very high concentration of what's called ursodeoxycholic acid in their gallbladders, particularly in the winter. ... So there's one reason why bear gallbladders are so expensive: they have serious medicinal properties, which makes them inherently valuable.15 abr 2015
What do Chinese use bear bile for?
BEAR BILE AND TRADITIONAL CHINESE MEDICINE. Bear bile has been a popular ingredient in traditional Chinese medicine for 3,000 years. [1] It has been used to cure various ailments, such as fever, gall stones, liver problems, heart disease, and eye irritation.
Why does Vietnam use bear bile?
In Vietnam, bile traditionally was obtained from the gallbladders of wild bears. The practice of farming Asiatic black bears and sun bears—both considered vulnerable to extinction—started in the 1990s to meet a growing demand for bile.18 nov 2021
Why do poachers take bear gallbladders?
Poaching of bear gallbladders used in traditional medicine increases. ... "Bear gallbladders and bile are used in traditional medicine to treat a variety of illnesses including fever, liver disease, convulsions, diabetes, and heart disease," HSUS' website states.29 nov 2010
Why are bears killed for their gallbladder?
A significant proportion of the bears die because of the stress of unskilled surgery or the infections which may occur. Farmed bile bears are housed continuously in small cages which often prevent them from standing or sitting upright, or from turning around.
Is it legal to sell bear gallbladders?
Bear gall bladder is illegally sold for non-traditional medicinal purposes. The price for an illegal bear gall bladder typically starts between $50 and $200, and depending on the market can end up being sold several times over at prices exceeding $1,000 per organ.13 oct 2015
Why do they take bile from bears?
Bear bile has been used in traditional Asian medicine for thousands of years. It contains high levels of ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) known to be useful for treating liver and gall bladder conditions in humans.1 nov 2021
How much is a bear gallbladder worth on the black market?
Although black bears are not in danger of extinction in most states, their body parts garner astronomical prices on the international black market. A U.S. hunter can sell a bear gallbladder for $20 to $120, with the retail price ranging from $75 to $600.9 oct 1994