Slaughter of the black bears

[Guest guest]

Daily Mail Newspaper

Saturday Feb 21st., 2004

 

Sick trade in organs to make love potions spreads from China to Alaska

 

Slaughter of the black bears

by Bill Mouland

 

For years, wild black bears have died at the hands of Chinese farmers

who believe their gall bladders and bile make powerful medicines and

love

potions.

The sickening slaughter has provoked vociferous campaigns by

conservationists - but now there is evidence that it is spreading around

the

world.

Seven men in Alaska, home to 50,000 of the bears, have been arrested

after at least 14 of the animals were killed and dismembered for their

gall

bladders and supposedly valuable organs.

The authorities fear the trade has switched focus to satisfy the demands

of quack doctors in China, Korea and Japan.

While the bile of the black bear is medically proven to reduce

gallstones and treat liver complaints, Chinese practitioners have come

to see it as a

cure for all ills, including as an aphrodisiac or love potion.

Chinese farmers capture the bears - which are among the most endangered

species - herd them into crates and ' milk ' them for their bile through

 

catheters inserted into their stomachs.

Campaigns, spearheaded by charities such as the International Fund for

Animal Welfare and the Hong King - based Animals Asia Foundation,

have helped save the bears - but put an even greater price on their

heads as a result.

Evidence of this growing danger comes from Anchorage in Alaska, where

five men have been charged with killing the bears.

Gall bladders sell for more than £10,000, said Stan Pruszenski, special

agent in charge of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in Alaska.

Timothy Burgess, the U.S. state's Attorney, said federal and state law

enforcement agencies were now investigating other poaching cases

involving 50 more bears.

Cam Tooey, special assistant to U.S. Secretary of the interior Gail

Norton added: " It's sad. This is a systematic and targeted poaching

operation

in Alaska, where previously nothing of this magnitude existed. "

The Alaska ring was uncovered by chance 18 months ago when biologists

making an aerial survey of a stream spotted a black bear caught in a

snare.

Investigations uncovered an ice box full of organs and the 22ft boat in

which the poachers are said to have sped to and from their prey.

Kwan Su Yi, 32, and Tae Won Ro, 33 are accused of setting snares by

hanging aircraft cable one-eighth of an inch thick from trees.

Along with James H Moon, 26 they are said to have killed the animals and

removed ' legs, heads and gall bladders '.

They have been charged with conspiracy, attempted export and sale of

illegally taken wildlife.

Prosecutors say gall bladders found in a freezer at Yi's home were to be

sent to Korea.

Mr Pruszenski said that to get the best possible price for the

gallbladders, the sellers had to authenticate that the parts came from

wild animals

and it is thought the men will have taken photos or even video's of

their kills.

In another indictment, Chi Ung Kim, 82 and Kil Young Chu 69, are said to

have smeared grease on trees and along game trails to lure bears to

traps.

They are then accused of shooting the animals, pillaging their '

valuable ' parts and burying the carcasses.

The men have been charged with conspiracy and the sale of illegally

taking wildlife after snaring and shooting four bears on the kenai

Peninsula.

The maximum penalties for each of the five men are five years in prison

and £130,000 fines.

Two other men also face charges.

Timothy Karlovich, 51, owner of an aircraft charter company, is said to

have flown Kim and Chu to the snares on at least one occasion.

Thomas Ling Ming Cha, 69, is charged with transporting black bear gall

bladders for sale.

 

b.mouland

 

--

Dave Neale

UK Director

Animals Asia Foundation

 

Find out more about our historic China Bear Rescue and Friends or Food?

projects

by visiting the Animals Asia Foundation website at

http://www.animalsasia.org