- Title: CHINA: Animal rights workers rescues 10 bears from a Chinese bile farm
- Date: 3rd May 2010
- Summary: CHENGDU CITY, SICHUAN PROVINCE, CHINA (RECENT) (REUTERS) (SOUNDBITE) (Mandarin) 33-YEAR-OLD ANIMALS ASIA FOUNDATION PUBLIC EDUCATION OFFICER ZHU KE SAYING: "In the past, bile was extracted by farmers using metal contraptions. As you can see, many of the bears are oozing pus, blood and bile from their abdomens. Aside from that, some of the bears have become infected by th
- Embargoed: 18th May 2010 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: China
- Country: China
- Topics: Crime / Law Enforcement,Environment / Natural World
- Reuters ID: LVABBENU6RPFIAYHRCLHF8BE3ZI
- Story Text: Cramped in tiny cages and with gaping wounds in their sides, these10 moon bears were held in captivity for years in China's Shandong province, pierced by metal tubes that drained the bile from their gall bladders, an ingredient highly valued in Chinese medicine.
The bears were released after negotiation between animal rights NGO Animals Asia Foundation and local government officials, closing the last bile farm in eastern Shandong province, bringing the total of bile-farm-free provinces to 20.
Many of the bears had open wounds in their abdomens when the Animals Asia team arrived, publicity officer Zhu Ke said, adding the farmers seemed to have had removed the bile draining tubes just hours before they arrived.
Some bears were swaying in their cages to ease the pain when the team arrived, Zhu said.
"In the past, bile was extracted by farmers using metal contraptions. As you can see, many of the bears are oozing pus, blood and bile from their abdomens. Aside from that, some of the bears have become infected by the bile extraction process and have colic tumours around their wounds," Zhu said.
Bear bile has been used in traditional Chinese medicine for thousands of years, and is believed to be a treatment for liver disease, sore eyes, fever and other heat related complaints.
The rescued bears were driven to a sanctuary in Chengdu, where they would be given veterinary care and a new home.
But one bear was in such a bad condition that the team had to stop in the middle of the journey and perform a four-hour-long operation on the motorway, Animals Asia founder Jill Robinson said.
"Over four hours of surgery, and this is what poor old Oliver has had removed from his gall bladder, he was in so much pain. Hopefully now he's well on his way to recovery," she said.
All 10 bears survived the 2,400 kilometre drive to Chengdu, according to the NGO and will now undergo surgery to treat the weeping wounds on their sides, a result of years of free-drip bile extraction.
"During this period, it is important for the bears to have medical attention. Since they have all been subjected to live bile extraction the surgery will remove their severely damaged gall bladders. We will help them to recover and then they will be moved to the larger and semi-wild animal house, where they will spend the rest of their lives," Zhu said.
The Animals Asia Foundation, established 12 years ago, has rescued 276 moon bears and closed more than 40 bile farms, they aim to eliminate bile farming in China.
Bear bile and its powder is in demand in many countries in Asia but is most highly sought after in China, Japan and Korea, say Animals Asia Foundation.
There are now at least 50 natural and synthetic substitutes, but the real thing still sell for high prices. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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