bear farming

BEAR FARMING

Moon bears or sun bears are individually imprisoned in cramped cages and must endure painful bile extractions from their abdomen. The bile is sold for medicinal purposes despite the availability of alternatives. The cages are known as crush cages because they are intolerably tiny or have a metal rack that crushes the bear so it cannot move. The bears endure a lifetime of misery in these claustrophobic cages for up to 20 years. Often they do not have the simple ability to stand up, turn around, or stretch their limbs. In some cases they are completely immobilized. Bile extraction methods vary. The most gruesome technique involves forcing the bear to permanently endure a catheter inserted into it’s abdomen. Either the bear is forced to wear a metal jacket that is locked around it or they are permanently pinned down in their crush cage. A plastic tube connected to the catheter collects the bears bile. Often the catheters become infected and cause extreme pain.
The bears suffer immensely and often die prematurely from mental and physical distress and infection. Side effects include stunted growth, cage scars, limb degeneration, and hair loss. These bears exhibit neurotic behaviors including head banging, paw biting, and repetitive swaying. Teeth and claws are often removed to prevent them from defending themselves or removing extraction devices. Bear farms are operated in China, Vietnam, and Korea.

BEAR BAITING

In the name of entertainment a bear who has had its teeth and claws removed is secured with a rope to a stake in the ground. Two or more trained fighting dogs are set loose to attack the defenseless bear. The more ferocious the fight, the greater the entertainment value. The bear’s nose, muzzle, and ears are often ripped open by the frenzied dogs. They must endure many fights to raise money for their owners. They are never allowed to be killed by the dogs because they are a valuable income source. Defenseless and fearful from previous fights, they must be dragged by rope into the arena of spectators to perform. Bear baiting takes place in Pakistan and they are illegally poached to supply this barbaric practice.

DANCING BEARS

Bear cubs are snatched from their mother, often after she is killed when she tries to defend her young. The cub’s teeth are often knocked out or sawed off to prevent resistance. A hole is burnt into their nose through the base of their muzzle without anesthesia. A coarse rope is inserted into the wound and forced out of a nostril. The nose is the most sensitive part of a bear. By yanking the bear by the nose in any direction, it is forced to comply to avoid the pain. The wound often becomes infected making it extra sensitive.
The rope is pulled up forcing the cub to stand on its hind legs. The bear's hind paws are repeatedly struck with a club or hot iron. Some training methods involve dragging the bear onto hot embers or a hot metal sheet. The cub reacts by hopping from one foot to the other to escape being scorched. Meanwhile a drum or dancing music is played. After repeated punishment the tormented bear will associate the drum or music with pain and “dance” on command in front of an audience. Dancing bears (usually sloth bears) still exist in India. To a lesser extent it is practiced in Siberia.