More than 10,000 bears – mainly moon bears, but also sun bears and brown bears – are kept on bile farms in China, and around 2,400 in Vietnam. The bears are milked regularly for their bile, which is used in traditional medicine.

Bile is extracted using various painful, invasive techniques, all of which cause massive infection in the bears. This cruel practice continues despite the availability of a large number of effective and affordable herbal and synthetic alternatives.

Most farmed bears are kept in tiny cages. In China, the cages are sometimes so small that the bears are unable to turn around or stand on all fours. Some bears are put into cages as cubs and never released. Bears may be kept caged like this for up to 30 years. Most farmed bears are starved, dehydrated and suffer from multiple diseases and malignant tumours that ultimately kill them.

Animals Asia is doing amazing work, caring for rescued bears at their sanctuaries across Asia, educating traditional Chinese medicine practitioners, and working with local governments to stamp out this barbaric practice for good.

That's why we are walking 50 miles across Dartmoor, over very challenging terrain, all day and night. The trail marks the boundary of the ancient forest of the moor and is one of the oldest walks on Dartmoor.

We want to see bear bile farming end in our generation and we think this is possible, so please, please dig deep and donate now.

Thank you,

Lizzie and Kurt