Bear bile is a popular remedy used in Traditional Asian Medicine. Yes, the name means exactly what it sounds like. This fluid is obtained by extracting bile from the bear’s gallbladder.

It is believed that bear bile possesses anti-inflammatory properties and it is used to treat a variety of conditions. Although there are many herbal and synthetic alternatives to bear bile, the bear bile industry is still immensely popular across Thailand, Cambodia and China.

Bear bile farms typically keep sun bears, moon bears and brown bears in small “crush” cages where they have their bile fluid extracted daily. Not only is this an incredibly painful experience for the bears, but they also rarely receive proper food or water and are deprived of medical care. Most bears develop malignant tumors and other ailments as a result of having their bile continuously drained.

Thankfully, Animals Asia is working to save bears from this sad existence. Most recently, they rescued two moon bears, Coco and Yogi, from this cruel fate.