Friday September 21, 2012, 2:08 am
"According to a 2011 report conducted by TRAFFIC, a wildlife trade monitoring network, the Ministry of Environment said there were 59 bear farms in Korea housing 1,066 bears. In contrast, on Mount Jiri, one of the country's famed mountains in the southwest known as the living ground for the moon bears, less than 30 are believed to be living. Most of these Asiatic black bear species are wanted and caged for their bear bile.

Bear bile, a typically dark yellow or brown liquid made in the liver but saved in the gall bladder, is commonly used in traditional Chinese medicine, using it to help ease pain, vision problems and fevers. It's also been found in toothpastes and soaps.

Bear farming is legal in Korea, China and Vietnam, though Vietnam has began phasing out the trade, said Kelly Frances, founder and president of Bear Necessity Korea, a non-profit group that aims to end the bear bile farming industry. It's illegal, however, for any of it to be exported, and Korea has already made the extraction of bile from live bears illegal due to public concerns, according to a spokesperson for the World Society for the Protection of Animals (WSPA)."

Friday September 21, 2012, 3:24 am
Let's hope this will be effective.

Friday September 21, 2012, 3:49 am
Good news.

Friday September 21, 2012, 5:35 am
good news

Friday September 21, 2012, 7:16 pm
Glad that progress is being made to protect these bears!

Friday September 21, 2012, 8:59 pm
"Traditional chinese medicine" be damned! This is wrong on so many levels. I am glad that there has been onel step in the right direction. Noted, thanks.

Friday September 21, 2012, 10:05 pm
Good news. I hope the efforts are successful.

Saturday September 22, 2012, 2:02 am
This is good news! :-)

Saturday September 22, 2012, 6:48 am
EARTH CRY video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jppmMcjgWS0

Saturday September 22, 2012, 9:19 am
thanks.

Saturday September 22, 2012, 11:13 am
thanks for sharing the good news Kevin

Saturday September 22, 2012, 11:31 am
Great news! Thanks.

Saturday September 22, 2012, 11:55 am
Good news.