Progress — Moon Bears Freed from Laos Bile Farm

In a major step forward for bears trapped in the brutal bile industry, the Southeast Asian nation of Laos has shut down a bile farm for the first time and rescued three moon bears who had spent years suffering in captivity.

With support from the Laotian government, the owner of the Kao Liaw bile farm in Vientiane, the country’s capital, agreed to permanently shut down their operation and relinquish the farm’s three remaining bears, a male and two females. The bears have now been safely transferred to the Luang Prabang Wildlife Sanctuary, operated by the Australia-based NGO Free the Bears, which coordinated the rescue alongside Laotian authorities.

Although Laos banned the hunting, trade, and possession of bears and their body parts in 2007, a legal loophole allowed pre-existing bile farms to continue operating. The law also included a provision that farms could only be closed once space became available at a sanctuary equipped to care for former bile bears, as these animals suffer long-term psychological trauma and serious health issues as the result of bile farming which makes them unable to be returned to the wild.

Thanks to increased sanctuary capacity in recent years, the government can now begin phasing out these farms and giving the bears a second chance at life.

This is only the first farm to be closed with direct involvement from the Laotian government but it signals growing momentum. As Free the Bears communications director Rod Mabin said, “This is an important milestone for both Free the Bears and our government partners, showing that it is possible to close a bear bile farm and signaling that Laos is increasing its capacity and commitment to take on those who are illegally exploiting wildlife for profit.”

For the three rescued moon bears, this moment is life-changing. After years of confinement and the agony of being repeatedly “milked” for their bile, they now have the chance to live in peace. In their new sanctuary home they can lounge in the sun, climb platforms, explore caves, splash in pools, and enjoy the freedom they were denied for so long.

Meanwhile, the United States continues to lag behind in efforts to protect bears. Despite growing global awareness, American hunters remain complicit in the gruesome international trade in bear body parts, with little accountability.

You can help by joining Species Unite and calling on Congress to reintroduce and pass the Bear Protection Act. This vital bipartisan legislation would finally end U.S. involvement in the trade of bear gallbladders and send a strong message that this form of animal cruelty is unacceptable. 

Together, we can help bring an end to this unnecessary and deeply inhumane industry.