Asian black bear (Ursus thibetanus) kept for the extraction of bile which is used in traditional medicine.
Image details
Contributor:
Wildlife in Trade / Alamy Stock PhotoImage ID:
2A6EHG2File size:
54.4 MB (1.7 MB Compressed download)Releases:
Model - no | Property - noDo I need a release?Dimensions:
3519 x 5400 px | 29.8 x 45.7 cm | 11.7 x 18 inches | 300dpiDate taken:
10 April 2010Location:
Hanoi, VietnamMore information:
These images were commissioned by the Australian NGO Free the Bears Fund to document the practice of keeping bears - usually Asian black bear (Ursus thibetanus) for the extraction of bile which is used in traditional medicine. Vietnam's wild bear population has long been depleted and now most bears are smuggled in from neighbouring countries. They are kept in the most appalling conditions, usually singly in cages barely larger than the bear. There have been several initiatives recently by foreign and local NGOs cooperating with Vietnamese authorities to try and phase out the practice. In Vietnam, bile is usually extracted by a Doctor or Vet using a medical ultrasound machine and large syringe.