Consumerism is threatening the survival of bears around the world.
The international demand for bear body parts has put a price tag on the head of every wild bear. Bear gall bile is especially sought after and is used in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), shampoos, teas and wines.
Bears in the U.S. are at great risk, as poachers have discovered that foreign markets, where bear stocks are dwindling, are willing to pay a high price for gall bladders, paws and other parts. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service estimates that 40,000 bears are hunted legally each year in North America. Along with this, an additional 40,000 are killed illegally each year, while poachers go virtually unpunished.
Most consumers are unaware that bear bile products can now be found in most major U.S. cities. The problem is significantly more severe in Asia. In China, bears are “farmed” and milked daily for their bile through a surgically implanted drain. The procedure is extremely painful and conditions are deplorable.
The U.S. government must do its part to stop the cycle of exploitation by safeguarding American species from the illegal trade of bear parts and bringing about a commitment from China to phase out bear farming over the next four years, before the Olympic torch shines over Beijing in 2008.
Don't let this tragedy continue. Urge the U.S. government to make the Bear Protection Act a priority in Congress and use its influence in support of bears around the world.
12:54 pm PDT, Apr 2,Name not displayed, Connecticut
# 11,151:
8:40 pm PDT, Mar 31,Jenny Vegan, United States Minor Outlying Islands
It is deplorable to treat a sentient being in this manner.
# 11,150:
2:14 pm PDT, Mar 31,Isa Loria, Italy
# 11,149:
3:52 pm PDT, Mar 30,Silky Wyld, Wisconsin
# 11,148:
12:42 pm PDT, Mar 30,Elise Chaney, California
# 11,147:
11:48 am PDT, Mar 30,Emma Mckerry, United Kingdom
this is totally wrong inhumane and cruel and i would like to support an end to it once and for all
# 11,146:
7:44 am PDT, Mar 30,Beatrice DUPONT, France
# 11,145:
5:09 am PDT, Mar 29,Katrina Mayuga, Philippines
# 11,144:
6:05 pm PDT, Mar 24,Name not displayed, Italy
# 11,143:
8:15 am PDT, Mar 22,Ingrid Eiserbeck, Germany
# 11,142:
3:24 am PDT, Mar 22,Art Deco, Maine
# 11,141:
7:21 am PDT, Mar 20,Ginger Geronimo, Alabama
# 11,140:
11:34 am PDT, Mar 19,Jim Phillips, California
The U.S. government to make the Bear Protection Act a priority in Congress and use its influence in support of bears around the world.
# 11,139:
12:33 pm PDT, Mar 18,Shannon Sultan, Wisconsin
# 11,138:
6:14 am PDT, Mar 17,Emmy Undem, Austria
Its simply inhumane.
# 11,137:
3:43 pm PDT, Mar 15,BiLL Fowlie, Maine
# 11,136:
6:22 am PST, Mar 2,Nadine Schüring, Germany
# 11,135:
2:40 pm PST, Feb 29,Suzie Gordon, New Hampshire
# 11,134:
8:35 am PST, Feb 29,Jeannie Blackwell, Florida
# 11,133:
12:08 pm PST, Feb 25,Daniel Amon, South Carolina
# 11,132:
9:35 am PST, Feb 25,Nina Anonym, Germany
ich hoffe gott und das hohe gericht hat mit euch ebenfalls keine gnade kein erbarmen!!!!!!
# 11,131:
9:28 am PST, Feb 25,Marion Bienert, Germany
schützt die Bären!!eure medezin ist ein dreck wert,das wissen auch viele sogenante ärtze bei euch,u.für eure kranke potenz esst viagra!!Man kann bei euch nur noch mit dem kopfschütteln!!SICK;SICK;SICK!!!!!!
# 11,130:
5:19 pm PST, Feb 22,Tatiana Costa, Brazil
# 11,129:
3:47 pm PST, Feb 22,Cher Isbell, Texas
# 11,128:
2:50 am PST, Feb 19,Marcella Checchi, Italy
# 11,127:
6:04 pm PST, Feb 17,Laura Zanoli, Italy
# 11,126:
10:33 pm PST, Feb 10,Laurel Watson, Arizona
# 11,125:
4:53 am PST, Feb 8,Name not displayed, Connecticut
I LOVE BEARS
# 11,124:
2:38 am PST, Feb 8,Laurel Burns, Maine
# 11,123:
12:08 am PST, Feb 4,Maike Schlarbaum, Germany
# 11,122:
7:41 am PST, Jan 30,Kyna Crain, Montana
# 11,121:
2:31 am PST, Jan 30,Alessandro Barracciu, Italy
# 11,120:
2:30 am PST, Jan 30,Laura Tatti, Italy
# 11,119:
2:06 am PST, Jan 20,Lucien Pan Morningstar, Colorado
# 11,118:
2:22 am PST, Dec 28,Bianka Trensch, Germany
# 11,117:
10:13 am PST, Dec 18,Rena Lawrence, Texas
this is murder, and it wrong
# 11,116:
2:53 pm PST, Dec 14,Mariola Slaska, United Kingdom
# 11,115:
9:34 pm PST, Nov 27,Name not displayed, Maine
# 11,114:
9:02 am PST, Nov 23,Michael Rabasco, Minnesota
# 11,112:
6:33 am PST, Nov 21,Ralph Wirth, Germany
I know that you Americans like the hunting and the kiling. But you should learn to control yourselves and to develop a sensitivity for the values of the nature. Do not believe that the Holy Dollar is the only value in your country. Because, if it were so, what would be your country good for? A dead place full of selfish and insensitive people. Think about if it is what you want
# 11,111:
8:12 am PST, Nov 17,Catherine Godfrey, Canada
# 11,110:
1:22 pm PST, Nov 6,Janette Hasler, Germany
# 11,109:
2:27 am PDT, Oct 25,Name not displayed, Wisconsin
# 11,108:
3:42 pm PDT, Oct 21,Melanie Leighton, United Kingdom
It's wrong on sssooo many levels but suffice it to say, are we not supposed to be human(e) beings??!!??
# 11,107:
11:14 pm PDT, Oct 12,Melissa Smith, Rhode Island
# 11,106:
1:44 am PDT, Oct 12,Vici Doubek, Washington
# 11,105:
1:14 pm PDT, Oct 9,Madelin Castillo, California
# 11,103:
10:49 am PDT, Oct 5,Jack Sheng, California
The bear population is dwindling --- stop the killing before we force them to extinction.
# 11,102:
1:25 am PDT, Oct 2,Claire Elise Archibald, United Kingdom
