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The Animal Welfare Cause
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Loading...Moon Bears: Life in a Coffin
Thousands of Asiatic black bears, known as moon bears because of the white crescent markings on their chests, are confined to suffer on bear farms, some trapped in cages no larger than a telephone booth for their entire lives.
Bear farming was started as a way to collect bile from the bears’ gall bladder, which is used in traditional Asian medicine, and was considered as a way to protect the number of moon bears in the wild through captive breeding. However, bears are still showing up with injuries indicative of being illegally trapped in the wild. Some bears also have their teeth cut back or their claws removed to make them easier to handle.
Bile extraction may be performed by permanently implanting a catheter in a bear’s abdomen or by the newer “free dripping” technique.
The “free-dripping” technique is now the only permitted method of bile extraction. This method involves surgery to create an open hole or fistula in the abdomen through which bile drips out. While this is promoted as “humane” and appears more aesthetically pleasing than a metal catheter implant, Animals Asia’s investigations and veterinary assessments show that this technique is as inhumane, if not more so, than the older methods and causes a high mortality rate on the farms.
Unfortunately, bear farming is legal and requires owners to be licensed by the government. The World Society for the Protection of Animals estimates that approximately 12,000 bears are currently suffering on bear farms around Asia, with an estimated 16,000 left in the wild and are considered an endangered species.
Under the Convention of the International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES), the commercial export of bear parts is illegal, including gall bladders and bile. Wildlife DNA Services has created a protein detection kit that is being tried in Canada and Australia by customs and wildlife officials.
The active ingredient in bear bile, UDCA, can be synthetically created without the use of animals. Additionally, a report by the Chinese Association of Medicine and Philosophy and EarthCare has established that there are at least 54 herbal alternatives to bear bile, including Chinese ivy stem, dandelion, chrysanthemum, common sage and rhubarb. The alternatives are both cheap and effective, according to Animals Asia.
Since October 2000, over 40 bear farms have been closed down by the Government and over 245 bears released into the care of Animals Asia’s Moon Bear Rescue Centre in Sichuan. The World Society for the Protection of Animals is working on a similar campaign to encourage Asian governments, practitioners and consumers to promote alternatives to bear bile.
The compassion with which we’ve been given as humans, the only creature on earth who is able to help other life, includes the knowledge that healing does not come at the injury of another life. It includes the concept of respect for the living conditions of others.
You can help by:
Writing a letter to Chinese officials
Signing Care2 member Jacqueline Wall’s petition to stop bear farming
For more information on moon bears and how to help, visit Animals Asia Moon Bear Rescue campaign and the WSPA.
Read more: animal welfare, animals asia, bear bile, bear farming, bears, moon bears, WSPA
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+ add your ownthis insanity have to stop. we can do it. we have to signe over and over. we need to let the whole world know all about this.
Stop the insanity. signed People wake up to this inhuman treatment healing does not come from causing suffering
The only consolation is that evil always destroys itself in the end. I just wish this evil would do it sooner. There are just too many sociopaths on this planet.
this barbaric , sick and twisted form of cruelty to these absolutely gorgous animals of nature,is absolutely unbeleivable and emotionally disturbing to me, i cannot even look at videos or pictures of these bears being totally tortured, honestly i feel that angry about it that i would just like to give those poeple thats if you could call them that, the same treatment just to let them know how it feels because these bears are one of the most beautiful creatures on this earth,
Hi All - Happy Monday. I have signed up to join a Sponsored charity Walk for Freedom to help Asia's Moon Bears which is hosted by Animals Asia - this Saturday September 11th 2010 here in London UK. Yes! I have just 5 days to go!
The campaign is called Simple Steps that Help Paws and Claws. http://www.justgiving.com/DianneHillierWalktoSupportendBearFarms
I am sure that most of us know the horrific trade of Bear Bile farming in Asia - and I am seeking sponsorship for my walk to raise funds to help rescue Bears and End Dog & Cat consumption.
Thus I have Created a petition which is published - http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/5-miles-for-animals-asia---help-rescue-bears-from-bile-farms/
There are a couple videos to watch one runs for 3 mins and the other approx 8 mins showing the rescue work by Animals Asia.
Please invite your friends, family and relative to join my support in my mission to rescue Moon Bears from a Hellish existence.
Please also see http://www.care2.com/news/member/525884267/2095262 for other members comments
Stop this sick animal abuse. What goes around comes around
This is just sick ! Such gorgeous animals. I just can't wrap my head around how these people can live with themselves.
It can be synthetically created without the use of animals then why on earth is it allowed.
p.s. that bear in the pic is the cutest thing ever
Signed this and other petitions, for months spreading this
story. Send letters to Vietnam, Korea too. Agony of innocent bears.
This needs more media coverage so we who care can take further action to get this stopped as soon as possible. It's so cruel. Signed and sent petition.
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