Locked in tiny wire cages and destined for a life of being drained of bile through syringes or surgically implanted taps, the 27 Asiatic black bears rescued in northernย Laosย this week had known almost nothing of what it means to be a bear.
Locked in tiny wire cages and destined for a life of being drained of bile through syringes or surgically implanted taps, the 27 Asiatic black bears rescued in northernย Laosย this week had known almost nothing of what it means to be a bear.
A worldwide summary of where moon bear welfare and bear bile farming stand as of 2026.
II hope this message finds you well, wherever you are in this wide world. During the 20+ years I lived and worked in Asia, I had the incredible privilege of having regular contact with the phenomenal Jill Robinson, Founder and CEO of Animals Asia. Bear Necessity Korea (BNK) was a grassroots NGO rooted in passion, …
Itโs a practice that sounds so barbaric that you assume it would have been outlawed at least a century ago. And yet, South Korea is only just now,ย as of January 1, 2026, getting around to pulling the plug on its most disgusting and cruel tradition: bear bile farming.
Artist Paula Belle Flores gifts us all with her majestic imagery and prose. A rare treat for lovers of the moon, bears, and moon bears. Enjoy!