South Korea recently announced it shut down its bear bile farming industry at the beginning of the year. However, roughly 200 bears remain confined in pens awaiting the painful extraction of their bile, according to The Associated Press.
The Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment said it has prohibited the breeding and possession of bears, as well as the extraction of their bile, effective Jan. 1.
Under the revised animal rights protection law, violators could face prison sentences of up to five years.
“Our plan to end bear farming business is an implementation of our country’s resolve to improve welfare of wild animals and fulfill our related international responsibility,” Environment Minister Kim Sungwhan stated. “We will strive to protect bears until the last one.”
While 21 bears have already been moved to a government-run sanctuary, 199 bears remain at 11 farms nationwide, amid disputes over how much farmers should be compensated for relinquishing their bears.
Bear farmers will be granted a six-month grace period, but will not be permitted to extract bile during that time. They will also receive financial support until their bears are sold and relocated.
Concerns remain about the fate of the remaining bears. Activists say the government-run sanctuary appears too small to house the 49 bears that officials claim it can accommodate, and is appropriate for no more than 30.
In addition, a second government facility scheduled to open in April has been delayed until 2027 due to flooding. Unfortunately, this has activists considering placing some rescued bears with foreign zoos.
Still, bears in South Korea will no longer be allowed to suffer for years as captives in tiny cages, enduring painful, invasive extractions from their gallbladders for this profoundly cruel industry.
Lady Freethinker is deeply grateful for this long-overdue ban, and urges that all remaining bears be moved to sanctuaries as quickly as possible. We also call on other countries that still permit bear bile farming to follow South Korea’s lead.
