Bile Battle for Vietnam's Moon Bears

NOIR Nr.21 by SIT (http://www.sitnie.com/#724300/NOIR-2011) Animals Asia recently rescued fourteen moon bears for horrendous conditions on bile farms in Vietnam, even though bile farming is illegal in Vietnam. They have been moved to Asia Moon Bear Rescue Center in Tam Dao, near Hanoi. The bears show significant health problems including missing and maimed limbs, indicating they may have been trapped in the wild.

The Asiatic black bears, also known as moon bears, because of the yellow crescent-shaped moon across their chests, came from a bear farm in Binh Duong Province, South Vietnam about 9 miles north of Ho Chi Minh City. One of the four owners, Mr Nguyen Ngoc Tien decided to give up his share of the farm to Animals Asia with no demand for compensation, having seen the organization’s work in the media.

Across Asia, an estimated 14,000 moon bears are being held in captivity on farms and milked for their bile because its believed to be effective in the practice of traditional Asian medicine despite the availability of inexpensive and effective herbal and synthetic alternatives.

In Vietnam, bears are kept in small cages, drugged, restrained and have their abdomens jabbed with unsterilized four inch needles until their gall bladders are punctured to release their bile.

Watch the final 2 chapters here: Vietnam Rescue, Part 2: http://youtu.be/AoDOsImq1A8 Vietnam Rescue, Part 3: http://youtu.be/ZGZmyD6FvFc

Further information can be found on our website: http://www.animalsasia.org/