Heavily criticized bear bile farming to be fully banned next year
Korea is set to fully ban its decades-old controversial practice of bear bile farming next year, according to officials Wednesday, although about 200 bears are still in captivity. Since 1981, Korea has allowed the import and breeding of bears in an effort to boost income for farmers in rural areas. Although bear imports were banned in 1985 amid growing international criticism, bears continued to be held captive for their bile and other body parts used in alternative medicinal treatments. The revision to the Wildlife Protection and Management Act passed in December 2023 to formally outlaw bear farming. This week, the Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment announced that the breeding of bears and the extraction of bear bile will be prohibited starting Jan. 1 next year. Authorities said 34 bears have been relocated to protection facilities, but 199 bears remain in captivity at 11 farms across the country as negotiations continue between animal rights groups and bear farmers. The ministry said it will grant a six-month grace period, during which the farmers will not be punished for keepiWeiter zum vollständigen Artikel bei Korea Times
Quelle: Korea Times