Illegal bear products on sale around the world

Jun 12, 2007

Illegal products containing bear bile are on sale in Traditional Medicine shops in USA, Canada, Japan, Taiwan, Korea, Singapore, Australia and New Zealand according to new findings from investigations led by the World Society for the Protection of Animals (WSPA).

WSPA is launching From Cage to Consumer (12 June 2007) – a report summarising the results of the undercover investigation – as part of its continuing campaign to end bear farming. The report shows that shops in all eight countries surveyed offered bear products for sale and that most of these products originated from China’s bear farms.

There are over 7,000 bears in bear farms in China who suffer extreme pain due to daily bile extractions.  Many of these bears are kept in cages no bigger than a telephone box and often die from illnesses and infections from their open wounds.

Peter Davies, Director General of WSPA, comments:
“These results are shocking and confirm what we suspected. They show that bear farms are giving rise to illegal trade as well as being inherently cruel. In light of this evidence we urge the Chinese Government to reconsider its position on bear farming and instigate a phase-out of the bear farming industry in China.”

From Cage to Consumer launches today (12 June 2007) at the 14th Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) conference in Holland. All bear species are currently protected by CITES.

New weapon to fight bear trafficking

WSPA is attending the CITES conference to speak to key Government officials across the world about the report and the launch of a new bear detection kit to help in the fight against illegal trade.

WSPA and Wildlife DNA Services, a specialist wildlife forensics organisation, have developed a unique, on-the-spot test for bear proteins in products. The technology in the bear detection kits is very similar to that used in home pregnancy tests and it is designed to be as easy to use.

The kits are currently being trialed by the customs service in Australia and the Wildlife Enforcement Directorate, Environment Canada.

Chris Gee, Programme manager at WSPA, adds:
“Consumers can help in this fight to end bear farming too, by ensuring they do not use or purchase products form Traditional Medicine shops that contain bear bile or ingredients from any endangered species.”

WSPA’s campaign to end bear farming, will continue until the inherently cruel practice of bear farming is brought to an end.