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Chapter 26 - Captive Bears in Asia: Implications for Animal Welfare and Conservation

from Part IV - Conservation and ManagementConservation and Management

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  16 November 2020

By
Jan Schmidt-Burbach ,
Fakhar-i-Abbas  and
Neil D’Cruze
Edited by
Vincenzo Penteriani  and
Mario Melletti
Vincenzo Penteriani
Affiliation:
Spanish Council of Scientific Research (CSIC)
Mario Melletti
Affiliation:
WPSG (Wild Pig Specialist Group) IUCN SSC
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Summary

For thousands of years, bears have been kept in captivity to generate income for people. To this day, throughout Asia, three main types of commercial use persist: bear baiting, bear dancing, and bear bile farming. Through these uses tens of thousands of bears are being subjected to conditions that are highly detrimental to their welfare through physiological and psychological impairment during capture, transport, training, and captive conditions. All bear species endemic to Asia, as well as most brown bear populations in Asia, are recognized as threatened with extinction and listed under CITES Appendix I, making any international commercial trade in live animals or their parts illegal. Unfortunately, some countries maintain national legislation that allows for commercial trade or use of bears within that country. Furthermore, illegal international trade is continuing to pose challenges to law enforcement and the conservation and protection of bears worldwide. In this chapter we draw attention to the historic backgrounds, current situation, and holistic approaches that are needed to address these complex issues that are impeding bear welfare and conservation in Asia.

Keywords

captivebearsAsiabear dancingbear welfareconservationbear trade
Type
Chapter
Information
Bears of the World
Ecology, Conservation and Management
 , pp. 364 - 369
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2020

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