THE BILE TRADE

The Bile Trade

We monitor the changing trends in the trade of bear bile and parts, keeping track of the producers, sellers and end consumers of bear products and working to maintain up-to-date intelligence on the location, size and workings of the bear bile industry.

We work with government authorities and conservation groups to track the sale of bile and bear parts within China and Vietnam and monitor the illegal export of these products.

Our field officers visit traditional medicine shops, pharmacies and hospitals in both countries, gathering vital information on the distribution of bear products and the fluctuations in demand and price. We work with local and national authorities to run awareness-raising campaigns on the existing laws regarding buying and exporting bear bile, and to encourage and assist with the enforcement of these laws.

We also fund research into the bile trade, as well as studies on its effects on the wild moon bear population in China.