China

Bears on the road to recovery

Asiatic black bears, which are also known as moon or sun bears due to the crescent-moon-shaped patch of white fur on their chest, often suffer a cruel and tragic fate. In many Asian countries the animals' bile is surgically extracted for use in traditional oriental medicine. Once the bears are captured, a catheter is implanted in their gallbladder. The animals are then confined in cages so that their bile can be regularly extracted. The operation in which the catheter is implanted is painful and unhygienic and many bears do not survive the procedure.

Thanks to the efforts of the Animals Asia Foundation, captured bears can often be freed. The catheters in their gallbladders have been surgically removed, and they have been treated with the lifesaving veterinary pharmaceutical Baytril from Bayer.

The Animals Asia Foundation recently signed a cooperation agreement with the China Wildlife Conservation Association that is aimed at saving and releasing a total of 500 bears. There are also plans to set up a refuge in which the animals can spend the rest of their lives in safety and happiness. Here as well, Bayer Australia is planning to donate its Baytril pharmaceutical for operations — so the bears can enjoy a healthy start to their new lives.

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