All bear species except the giant panda have seen their numbers reduced as a result of the bear bile trade, however the Asiatic back bear has been impacted upon the most. This species of bear, commonly known as the Moon Bear is listed under the Convention on International trade in Endangered Species (CITES), in appendix I. Only the most critically endangered species are listed in this category.

In countries across Asia, thousands of bears live on bear farms where they are subjected to immense physical and mental torture caused by the daily extraction of bile and inhumane conditions. Many bears are without paws because the mental anguish suffered causes them to chew their arms to the point of amputation.

Bears are confined in small cages, most are too small for them to turn around in, some pin the animal flat to the bottom of the cage where they are held in that position for years on end because the cage has rusted permanently in this position.

They are subjected to painful methods of bile extraction involving crude surgery to implant catheters or by creating a permanent hole in the abdomen where the bile freely drips out.

Whilst the methods of farming bears for their bile vary across Asia, ALL of them are terribly cruel and unacceptable.

CITES requires ALL trading (including that for personal use) of traditional medicines that contain ingredients derived from endangered species of plants and animals be accompanied by a CITES permit. For species critically endangered species such as the Asiatic black bear, trading in medicine derived from these species is TOTALLY PROHIBTED.

ALL BEAR BILE PRODUCTS ARE PROHIBTED IN NEW ZEALAND AND CANNOT BE BROUGHT INTO THIS COUNTRY.