A latex catheter is surgically implanted into the bear’s abdominal wall and gall bladder.

In some instances, the catheter is surgically embedded under the skin from the abdomen to the hip, where it exits and enables the farmer to extract the bile at a safe distance from the bear’s head.

This method allows 50–100ml of bile to be tapped from each bear twice daily, but is liable to clogging as the bile crystallises.

Although against regulations in China, evidence of this method is commonly seen in bears at our Chengdu sanctuary.