Page 10 - Animals Asia Review 2017

End Bear Bile Farming

Ending bear bile farming in Vietnam – What next in Vietnam?

village by village
Today, the question is no longer will bear bile farming end in
Vietnam, it’s when.
grassroots work is helping to end bear bile farming in
Vietnam for good. one small village is notorious for its
In 2005 (when obtaining new bears and extracting bile was
bear farms, but with your support things are changing for made illegal) 4,239 bears were held on farms. Today, around
the better.
1,200 remain.
It’s a rainy Saturday in September and 200 pensioners and 30
We’re rescuing as many as we can and we’re working with
children are gathered in their communal house in Phung Thuong
on the outskirts of Hanoi.
national government, forestry and local authorities to ind a way
to end bear bile farming humanely. And to make sure it never
starts up again.
The children are drawing pictures of bears, while the elderly
are treated by four traditional medicine doctors on behalf of
Animals Asia. Most patients complain of back pain and arthritis We’ve drafted a roadmap on how to end the industry for good.
It’s already been agreed by forestry, and we hope to hear back
– the usual after-effects of a hard life.
from other departments soon. Their agreement would be the

The traditional cure for numerous health issues in this village green light needed to make the roadmap a reality.

used to be bear bile. Phung Thuong is one of the last major
bear farming areas in northern Vietnam. This small village holds
200 bears across 37 households.
Our grateful thanks to TV host Dirk Steffens who
provided the German voiceover for our “Team Oliver” ilm

And that’s why Animals Asia is here.
and Loftstudio hamburg for once again sharing their
technology free of charge.
We’re helping villagers learn about alternatives to bear bile,

and traditional doctors they trust are helping to explain and
prescribe them.
‘I feel richer than people who own millions.

Helping those who are in need is the most

Animals Asia works closely with the beautiful thing in
Vietnamese Traditional Medicine
Association, which has ordered its ’
the world.
Our rescued bears cooled

members to stop using bear bile 28,000
off with more than
beyond 2020.
Francesca giorgetti

Italian supporter and
sponsor of moon bear Bubu
delicious fruity ice pops
in 2016.

‘Most of the villagers were over 50. Their

minds are often very dificult to change,
Sending big bear hugs to all our wonderful bear
but they listened and seemed genuinely sponsors. If you’d like to sponsor your very own bear,
please go to our website. Thirteen lovely bears are
interested in the alternatives and why
waiting to meet you there.
they nolonger need bear bile for their
’
health.

Tuan Bendixsen
Vietnam Director

We’re targeting Phung Thuong as it’s one of Vietnam’s last Vietnamese seniors enjoy a free health consultation – and

major bear farming areas.
learn about herbal alternatives to bear bile.

10 Animals Asia Review 2016