Environment

Hanoi police seize biggest bear bile haul

Hanoi Police netted the largest haul of illegal bear bile in the country, according to a press release from the NGO Education for Nature Vietnam (ENV) on June 3.
Hanoi police seize biggest bear bile haul ảnh 1The bear bile bottles seized in the case in Hanoi on May 27, 2022. (Photo courtesy of ENV)
Hanoi(VNS/VNA) - Hanoi Police netted the largest haul of illegal bear bile in the country,according to a press release from the NGO Education for Nature Vietnam (ENV) onJune 3.

On May 27, 2022, the Unit No.2 of the Hanoi police department for environmentalcrimes in coordination with Dan Phuong district caught red-handed Nguyen VanThao trying to illegally transport 350 bottles of bear bile to thecustomers.

Thao, from Phung Thuong commune, Phuc Tho district, Hanoi confessed thatthe bear bile was all extracted from the seven Asian black bears (Ursusthibetanus), an endangered and protected species in Vietnam, that were beingkept in captivity in his own properties.

Hanoi continues to be the largest concentration of bears in captivity in Vietnamwith 149 bears being kept in private facilities, accounting for more than halfof the number of bears in captivity in the country.

It is estimated that 93 percent of bears in captivity in Hanoi are in PhucTho district.

Although the extraction and trading of bile bear are not very publiclyconducted, the situation remains in the district and has been reported by manydomestic and foreign news agencies for a long time.

The exceptionally large amount of bear bile seized in this case also confirmsthe complex and large-scale nature of the extraction and trading of bear bileat a number of bear breeding facilities in the city.

ENV called for harsh penalties against those involved in these illegalactivities as a deterrent, as well as step-up supervision and monitoring ofbear facilities, a complete ban on breeding activities in privately-runfacilities, and further awareness-raising efforts for the public on the use ofalternative substances for medicinal purposes in place of bear bile, whichtraditionally has been used for various ailments without clear science-backedeffectiveness.

Private bear keepers are also urged to hand over the bears to the Stateauthorities for care strictly without reimbursement./.
VNA
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