Vietnam, das Schicksal der Mondbären (360° - GEO Reportage)

The endangered Asiatic black bear is called the moon bear because of the light-colored crescent of fur in the middle of its chest. The bile of these bears is a popular remedy in traditional Asian medicine. In Vietnam, many bears were captured and crammed into cramped cages for years, where their bodily fluids were painfully extracted. Now, these so-called bear farms are to be closed. A film by Therese Engels © 2016, Licensed by MedienKontor / ARTE Subscribe to wocomoTRAVEL: https://goo.gl/tIk2Qc Follow us on Facebook:   / wocomo   Press release: Medicinal products extracted from the body parts of wild animals continue to enjoy great popularity in Asia. Although many active ingredients have been proven to be found in plant substances, this knowledge is only slowly gaining acceptance. Bear bile, which is painfully extracted from the animals on so-called bear farms, continues to sell like hot cakes. The animal welfare organization Animals Asia has been trying to close these farms for years. They are now even receiving government support. 360° - GEO Reportage accompanied them on the rescue of an Asiatic black bear. For ten years, Chau, the bear, lived in a cramped cage on the premises of a construction materials company. Her owner, a wealthy businessman, kept the animal for prestige reasons and to extract the bear's bile – a completely legitimate practice until a few years ago. Bear bile is considered a popular medicine used to relieve digestive disorders and other ailments. The fact that the animal was being subjected to unimaginable suffering was of no concern to anyone. Chau's fate is now to come to an end. The animal welfare organization Animals Asia is freeing her from her cage to provide her with a species-appropriate life in one of its sanctuaries – as far as this is still possible for the traumatized and behaviorally disturbed animal. Keeping bears for bile extraction is now prohibited, but more than 1,200 bears still eke out an existence in cages as so-called pets. Animals Asia, founded by Englishwoman Jill Robinson, is working to free these animals from their fate. In 2015 alone, 19 so-called bear farms were closed. But rescue is not enough. Medical care, feeding, and accommodation for the animals, who are solitary creatures in the wild, must also be ensured. This is no easy undertaking, and one that will soon push the organization to its limits. But there is still space, and the staff at the sanctuary in Tam Dao National Park are already awaiting the new arrival. 162 bears have been taken in here since its founding.