Bears Deserve Better

Bears are intelligent, emotional animals, yet many suffer horribly in captivity. One of the worst abuses is bile farming, where bears are trapped and drained of their bile for traditional medicine. “It’s the worst imaginable bile farm torture,” said Animals Asia, a group working to end the practice.

A Life in Hell

Caesar, a brown bear in China, was one of these victims. She spent years in a tiny cage, wearing a spiked, metal vest that stopped her from moving or resisting. Her bile was painfully extracted every day. It was a cruel, inhumane existence.

Rescue and Recovery

In 2004, Caesar was rescued by Animals Asia. Finally free, she began to heal. “To see her out in the sunshine… it’s hard to imagine her existence back then,” said Nic Field, who helped rescue her. She spent 12 peaceful years swimming, digging, and enjoying nature.

A Tragic End, A Message of Hope

Caesar later died from a tumor caused by years of abuse. “These metal jackets are now illegal,” said Steve Jackson, “but some may still exist.” Her story reminds us that the fight to end bile farming is not over.