Extraordinary Moon Bear Rescue: Bile Farm Transformed Into Sanctuary

In what is being called "the largest rescue of its kind ever undertaken," a farm where bears are kept captive for their valuable bile is being turned into a sanctuary, and all 130 of the moon bears living there will be freed from their cramped, inhumane quarters. The animal rights group Animals Asia announced it will lease the land and facilities of a bear bile farm in Nanning, China for its project called Peace By Piece.

According to The Animals Post, the farm was surrendered by the owner after his daughter convinced him that the bear bile industry was inhumane.

"This negotiation is a result of years of growing awareness and increased opposition, with the bear farmer showing the moral integrity to do the right thing," said Jill Robinson, the founder and chief executive of Animals Asia.

Once the sanctuary is put in place, the bears will have access to grass and natural light, and be able to roam around. The planned sanctuary, which can be seen on an interactive map here, will contain dens, pools, enrichment and play structures and veterinary care for all of the bears.

But Animals Asia can't do it alone -- they have an open call for donations here.

The bear bile industry has been singled out by animal activists as one of the cruelest animal industries. Bile, digestive juice produced by the liver and stored in the gall bladder, is valued in many parts of Asia as traditional medicine. To get it, farmers extract the substance through a tube in the bear's side, or create a permanent wound through which the bile drips freely -- both methods are considered barbaric and entirely inhumane. China has about 10,000 captive bears that yield about 30 tons of powdered bile every year.

Animals Asia and other groups are working both through legal crackdowns and through lessening demand for bear bile to put an end to the industry. You can learn more about efforts to stop bear bile farming here.