Sydney protests bear bile farming
Bear bile farming will be drawn into the spotlight in Sydney as a group of animal activists protest the practice still rife in parts of South East Asia.
Luke Sullivan, controversial artist and protest organiser, said despite international pressure to shut down the industry the practice is still lucrative in China, Vietnam and Korea.
“The Chinese government has estimated that there are between seven and ten thousand bears kept for the specific purpose of bile farming in China, with another five thousand in Korea and Vietnam,” Sullivan said.
“The bears used in the barbaric practice are invariably the endangered, Black Asiatic Bears.”
Bear bile is used in a variety of traditional Chinese medicines, however the active acid in the bile, ursodeoxycholic acid, has been available synthetically since the 1950s, which Sullivan says is evidence that the practice should be outlawed.
“To extract bile from the bear, a needle is inserted into its gall bladder, on a daily basis. The bears are kept captive in tiny “crush cages” and most captive bears have a life expectancy of 8 years, compared to an expectancy of 35 if left in the wild,” he said.
“It is no coincidence that the population of an animal unique to Asia has been steadily declining since bear bile farming became a profitable industry, and an industry traditionally supported by the Chinese government.”
“Efforts have been made by some governments to condemn the farms, and animal rights groups have drawn the practice onto the world stage at various times, yet the industry continues unrestricted.”
“The Chinese government must take on and accept the responsibilities of being a global power, close down this industry and provide for the rehabilitation of these bears. This is a cruel and disgusting industry.”
Sullivan, no stranger to headlines following the global reaction to his 2007 work The Fourth Secret of Fatima, said the protest had been organised to embarrass the governments complicit in the industry.
“Negotiations with the Chinese government have been held with animal welfare groups over a number of years and international pressure has been applied, yet the Chinese govt will not outlaw the practice. This is morally and ethically reprehensible, and the general public should be made aware,” Sullivan said.
The protest will be held 10:00 Friday 20 May outside the Chinese Consulate, 39 Dunblane Street, Camperdown. Sullivan urges like minded people to join in.
Luke Sullivan, controversial artist and protest organiser, said despite international pressure to shut down the industry the practice is still lucrative in China, Vietnam and Korea.
“The Chinese government has estimated that there are between seven and ten thousand bears kept for the specific purpose of bile farming in China, with another five thousand in Korea and Vietnam,” Sullivan said.
“The bears used in the barbaric practice are invariably the endangered, Black Asiatic Bears.”
Bear bile is used in a variety of traditional Chinese medicines, however the active acid in the bile, ursodeoxycholic acid, has been available synthetically since the 1950s, which Sullivan says is evidence that the practice should be outlawed.
“To extract bile from the bear, a needle is inserted into its gall bladder, on a daily basis. The bears are kept captive in tiny “crush cages” and most captive bears have a life expectancy of 8 years, compared to an expectancy of 35 if left in the wild,” he said.
“It is no coincidence that the population of an animal unique to Asia has been steadily declining since bear bile farming became a profitable industry, and an industry traditionally supported by the Chinese government.”
“Efforts have been made by some governments to condemn the farms, and animal rights groups have drawn the practice onto the world stage at various times, yet the industry continues unrestricted.”
“The Chinese government must take on and accept the responsibilities of being a global power, close down this industry and provide for the rehabilitation of these bears. This is a cruel and disgusting industry.”
Sullivan, no stranger to headlines following the global reaction to his 2007 work The Fourth Secret of Fatima, said the protest had been organised to embarrass the governments complicit in the industry.
“Negotiations with the Chinese government have been held with animal welfare groups over a number of years and international pressure has been applied, yet the Chinese govt will not outlaw the practice. This is morally and ethically reprehensible, and the general public should be made aware,” Sullivan said.
The protest will be held 10:00 Friday 20 May outside the Chinese Consulate, 39 Dunblane Street, Camperdown. Sullivan urges like minded people to join in.
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