# Bile bears **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [July 27, 2011, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bile-bears/590506 "2011-07-27T17:12:04Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![shijinn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/cc9497/32.png) [@shijinn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/shijinn)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2011, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bile-bears/590506/1 "2011-07-27T17:12:04Z")
[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bile\_bear](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bile_bear) > [@](#): > > … According to the HSUS, the bile is usually extracted twice a day through an implanted tube, producing 10–20 mL of bile each time; the process is believed to be painful, as the bears can be seen moaning and chewing their paws while being milked. Other methods include pushing a hollow steel stick through the bear’s abdomen. The use of metal catheters has been banned, though HSUS writes that bile bears are still seen with catheters in them … Living for 10–12 years under such circumstances results in severe mental stress and muscle atrophy … fuck.. i’m sorry for the contentless op but, just.. what the hell? ---
**Author:** ![Argent\_Towers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e8c25b/32.png) [@Argent\_Towers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Argent_Towers)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2011, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bile-bears/590506/2 "2011-07-27T17:17:17Z")
There is no concept of animal rights in China or indeed in most of the non-Western world. This is not intended to be some kind of slur against those places, just a statement of fact. Animals are to be used by humans and every bit of their possible value to humans is to be extracted, without any regard for the “feelings” of the animal - and it’s not because they’re cold psychopaths, it’s because they simply don’t have the concept of an animal having “feelings.” ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2011, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bile-bears/590506/3 "2011-07-27T17:18:30Z")
> [@shijinn](#): > > [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bile\_bear](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bile_bear) > > fuck.. > > i’m sorry for the contentless op but, just.. what the hell? The Wiki article says it’s for traditional Chinese medicine. In all likelyhood totally worthess so fuck 'em. ---
**Author:** ![Freudian\_Slit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/5daacb/32.png) [@Freudian\_Slit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freudian_Slit)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2011, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bile-bears/590506/4 "2011-07-27T17:24:33Z")
I really want to know who the first guy was who said, “Let’s milk a bear! We’ll make millions.” Tiger penises, OK, I can kind of see that. But bear bile? ---
**Author:** ![D\_Odds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/d_odds/32/2882_2.png) [@D\_Odds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D_Odds)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2011, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bile-bears/590506/5 "2011-07-27T17:25:52Z")
> [@Argent\_Towers](#): > > There is no concept of animal rights in China or indeed in most of the non-Western world. This is not intended to be some kind of slur against those places, just a statement of fact. Animals are to be used by humans and every bit of their possible value to humans is to be extracted, without any regard for the “feelings” of the animal - and it’s not because they’re cold psychopaths, it’s because they simply don’t have the concept of an animal having “feelings.” This also explains why sharks will have their fins removed and then unceremoniously dumped back in the ocean to die. In this case, neither feelings nor conservation come into play. We humans are a stupid species who are going to destroy our home. I just hope it is not in my nor my children’s lifetime. ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2011, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bile-bears/590506/6 "2011-07-27T17:30:18Z")
In Russia, bears milk _you_! ---
**Author:** ![storyguide3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@storyguide3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/storyguide3)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2011, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bile-bears/590506/7 "2011-07-27T17:42:17Z")
> [@runner pat](#): > > The Wiki article says it’s for traditional Chinese medicine. > > In all likelihood totally worthless so fuck 'em. In this particular case it looks like the active ingredient, [UDCA](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ursodiol), has some actual medical use. Of course, it is now possible to make it synthetically or concentrate it from other mammals killed for food purposes, so the bear farming is still a crock of senseless torture. ---
**Author:** ![shiftless](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9c0ed/32.png) [@shiftless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/shiftless)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2011, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bile-bears/590506/8 "2011-07-27T18:00:32Z")
I am sorry I followed that link. I am certainly going cut back on my Bear Bile consumption after reading that. ---
**Author:** ![Drunky\_Smurf](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drunky_smurf/32/449_2.png) [@Drunky\_Smurf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drunky_Smurf)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2011, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bile-bears/590506/9 "2011-07-27T18:10:27Z")
> [@shiftless](#): > > I am sorry I followed that link. I am certainly going cut back on my Bear Bile consumption after reading that. Alright, more for me. ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2011, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bile-bears/590506/10 "2011-07-27T18:23:42Z")
If you follow what I’d presume to be their line of reasoning for ingesting some element of the bear in the first place, that they’re strong, dominant creatures and that strength can be transferred, then even that would be lost in a production process that reduces the animals to little more than ill, mentally deranged, diseased carcasses in a filthy environment. A despicable practice in which neither the host nor the parasite benefits. ---
**Author:** ![Sailboat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sailboat/32/461_2.png) [@Sailboat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sailboat)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2011, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bile-bears/590506/11 "2011-07-27T18:35:17Z")
> [@Argent\_Towers](#): > > it’s not because they’re cold psychopaths, it’s because they simply don’t have the concept of an animal having “feelings.” Well, animal suffering is visible, it doesn’t require a “concept.” Some sort of systematic blind spot is involved, but it’s not as simple nor as innocent as a complete inability to form the concept. Besides, Westerners have told them. Once you’re told something, you can’t claim it never occurred to you. “Don’t fucking care,” sure, but not “My God, it never occurred to me!” > [@lieu](#): > > If you follow what I’d presume to be their line of reasoning for ingesting some element of the bear in the first place, that they’re strong, dominant creatures and that strength can be transferred Ah, sympathetic magic. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2011, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bile-bears/590506/12 "2011-07-27T19:06:45Z")
Bullshit like this is why when I have a skeptical reflex when I hear the phrase “Eastern medicine”. I’ll just offer the same suggestion I had for combating the harvesting of rhino horn - flood the market with expensive fakes. ---
**Author:** ![Malthus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/85f322/32.png) [@Malthus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malthus)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2011, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bile-bears/590506/13 "2011-07-27T19:08:23Z")
> [@lieu](#): > > If you follow what I’d presume to be their line of reasoning for ingesting some element of the bear in the first place, that they’re strong, dominant creatures and that strength can be transferred, then even that would be lost in a production process that reduces the animals to little more than ill, mentally deranged, diseased carcasses in a filthy environment. > > A despicable practice in which neither the host nor the parasite benefits. Hey, how strong and dominant can they be, if they have ended up in a cage with someone milking their bile? 😉 ---
**Author:** ![fumster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e9c0ed/32.png) [@fumster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fumster)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2011, 2:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bile-bears/590506/14 "2011-07-28T14:09:47Z")
> [@Sailboat](#): > > Well, animal suffering is visible, it doesn’t require a “concept.” Some sort of systematic blind spot is involved, but it’s not as simple nor as innocent as a complete inability to form the concept. Besides, Westerners have told them. Once you’re told something, you can’t claim it never occurred to you. “Don’t fucking care,” sure, but not “My God, it never occurred to me!” China probably sat the same about our lack of universal health care. ---
**Author:** ![levdrakon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@levdrakon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/levdrakon)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2011, 2:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bile-bears/590506/15 "2011-07-28T14:23:45Z")
> [@sh1bu1](#): > > China probably sat the same about our lack of universal health care. Are you suggesting China has universal healthcare? Ha, ha, ha! You’re funny. ---
**Author:** ![fumster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e9c0ed/32.png) [@fumster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fumster)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2011, 2:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bile-bears/590506/16 "2011-07-28T14:39:50Z")
> [@levdrakon](#): > > Are you suggesting China has universal healthcare? Ha, ha, ha! You’re funny. Way to go to ruin my weak point to begin with. ---
**Author:** ![Damuri\_Ajashi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/898d66/32.png) [@Damuri\_Ajashi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Damuri_Ajashi)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2011, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bile-bears/590506/17 "2011-07-28T18:59:52Z")
I always wondered why Bear Gall Bladder was so valuable in traditiobnal medicine. ---
**Author:** ![Malthus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/85f322/32.png) [@Malthus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malthus)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2011, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bile-bears/590506/18 "2011-07-28T19:08:20Z")
> [@Damuri\_Ajashi](#): > > I always wondered why Bear Gall Bladder was so valuable in traditiobnal medicine. I assume it is exactly because it is so difficult to obtain, and so sounds impressive. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2011, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bile-bears/590506/19 "2011-07-28T20:19:17Z")
Every so often someone in Alaska is arrested for killing bears solely for the gall bladders, which they sell to Asian buyers. It’s repellant to me, but many people up there have the attitude of: it’s just an animal, so what. ---
**Author:** ![humanafterall](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/humanafterall/32/19654_2.png) [@humanafterall](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/humanafterall)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2011, 2:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bile-bears/590506/20 "2011-07-29T02:47:25Z")
What they didn’t tell you, was that Bear Bile, along with people, is one of the most important ingredients in Soylent Green. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bile-bears/590506.md?page=2)