(CN) VOW OFFERS BOOST FOR BEAR RESCUE

[Guest guest]

Sunday Morning Post Magazine, 3 December 2000

 

by Cortlan Bennett

 

Beijing has pledged not to engage in international trade in bear bile, a vow

that comes as the world's biggest bear rescue gets underway on the mainland. The

announcement by Hong Kong based Animals Asia Foundation yesterday came as part

of an earlier agreement aimed at wiping out China's bear-bile trade over the

next 10 to 20 years. The July agreement between the federation, the China

Wildlife Conservation Association and the Sichuan Forestry Department called for

an end to bear farming. The agreement has secured the release of 500 Asiatic

black bears and the closure of the worst farms in Sichuan Province.

 

In a letter to the Sichuan Forestry Department on Friday, Beijing's Endangered

Species Import and Export Administration Office said it had " no arrangement in

place to obtain permission to export bear-bile. The protection of black bear

resources and regulation of the administration of bear farms constitute an

important part our work in respect to the protection of wild flora and fauna, "

it said. " All forms of commercial import and export of black bears and their

products are strictly prohibited under the Convention of International Trade in

Endangered Species. As an institution responsible for implementing the

convention, this office had never approved the export of produce made from bear

bile. "

 

The statement is good news for at least one mistreated animal. Andrew the

three-legged moon bear tasted freedom for the first time last week after years

inside a tiny " crush cage, " which clamps the animal to the floor while it is

milked of its bile twice a day. Andrew, who lost his limb as a cub to a bear

trap, was one of the first three bears released to the federation in October. A

seven-hour operation removed the 15cm metal catheter from his infected abdomen

and gall bladder. After six weeks of treatment, he was set free inside the

federation's sanctuary near Chengdu.

 

The Foundation has agreed to look after all 500 freed bears, who will pass

through its rescue centre in the next 18 months on their way to a sanctuary in

the southern Sichuan city of Ziyang, at a cost of US$3 million (HK$23.5

million). The federation has raised US$1 million and rescued 63 bears so far.

" We were taken by surprise at how fast the Chinese authorities acted, " said

federation founder Jill Robinson. " We had expected 30 to 45 bears initially, but

the farms are being closed down quicker than expected. "

 

There are 6,991 captive bears in 247 registered farms on the mainland, producing

seven tones of bile a year. Beijing has revoked the licences of 29 bear farms in

Sichuan, and agreed not to issue any new licences. " It shows that the Chinese

Government is serious about putting an end to bear farming once and for all, "

Ms. Robinson said.

 

National Association of Practitioners and Research chairman

Professor Lo Yan-wo said although bear bile had been used in traditional

medicines for almost 3000 years, modern herbal and synthetic remedies were

cheaper and more effective. " Traditionally, bear bile has been used to treat any

number of ailments, from liver complaints and reducing fever to improving

eyesight, " Professor Lo said. " But it was only ever used as a supplement - not a

remedy. The basic function of bear bile has now been replaced by many herbal

medicines and quite a number of new synthetic drugs on the market. "

 

*AAF can be contacted on + 852 2719 3340, or at http://www.animalsasia.org *