Jump directly to the content
BEAR TORTURE

‘World’s saddest bear’ tried to bite his way out of tiny cage where he was forced to VOMIT for bizarre medicine

AN ABUSED bear dubbed the "saddest in the world" was kept locked up in a tiny cage and forced to vomit so it could be used for a bizarre medicine.

The Asiatic black bear, named Soi, tried to escape the horrific conditions by gnawing at the bars of his enclosure.

Tragic Soi was confined to a tiny cage for the first years of his life in Vietnam
5
Tragic Soi was confined to a tiny cage for the first years of his life in VietnamCredit: Jam Press/Four Paws
The Asiatic black bear desperately tried to escape by gnawing at the bars of the cage
5
The Asiatic black bear desperately tried to escape by gnawing at the bars of the cageCredit: Jam Press/Four Paws
The animal was cruelly forced to be sick so the bile could be used for Chinese medicine
5
The animal was cruelly forced to be sick so the bile could be used for Chinese medicineCredit: Jam Press/Four Paws

He spent the first years of his life cooped up in the minuscule makeshift pen that is smaller than a car, leaving him visibly miserable.

Soi's former owner who lives in in the Son La province of Vietnam is believed to have sickeningly purchased him illegally to keep as a pet.

According to animal welfare group Four Paws, he weighed just 7kg when he was a young cub.

He eventually agreed to hand him over to authorities after the bear's harrowing living conditions came to light.

READ MORE ON ABUSED BEARS

The cruel owner had been keeping Soi captive in the hellhole cage in the back garden of a residential home.

Four Paws rescue team were forced to cut open the enclosure to free tragic Soi, who spent years cooped up in the enclosure.

They were initially informed that Soi was 17-years-old, leaving them stunned to discover he was in fact only around two-and-a-half years old during his first health check.

Following his rescue, the majestic Asiatic black bear was taken to the vets who thankfully found his health was in good condition.

But they did notice signs of bar biting - as a sorrowful Soi tried to chew on his cage in the hopes of escaping.

Four Paws say that it was likely that he was purchased illegally as a pet and used for bile bear farming.

Campaigners continue to call for the total abolition of the sick procedure - with an estimated 10,000 of the animals, mainly sun and brown bears still held in captivity, according to Animals Asia.

Bile from various species of bears, including Asiatic black bears and brown bears like, has been used in traditional Chinese medicine since at least the eighth century.

It contains high levels of ursodeoxycholic acid which is used in traditional Chinese medicine to treat liver disease and help dissolve gallstones.

SICKENING BILE BUSINESS

Soi is now said to be "happier than ever" while living among other rescued animals at a bear sanctuary in Ninh Binh, Vietnam.

A comprehensive veterinary examination at the sanctuary will further determine his health status and future needs.

Emily Wilson, Head of Campaigns at Four Paws, said: "Bears still kept on bear farms in Vietnam suffer from cruel keeping conditions, locked up in metal cages with barely any room to turn around, and lined up in dark sheds without any sunlight.

"Here they’ll endure bile extraction, which, despite being illegal, is still practised, and extremely painful.

"Bears need to roam around, climb, dig, and swim and should have the freedom to express their natural behaviours.

"The remaining bears in Vietnam still have a chance at a better life. But, if Hanoi keeps undermining the country’s commendable progress, their future looks grim."

The bile is harvested by making a permanent hole in the bear's abdomen and gall bladder - which can often lead to painful infections and diseases.

As a result, many bears hurt or even kill themselves by punching their stomachs, and are sometimes fitted with iron vests to stop this.

Read more on the Scottish Sun

Read More on The Sun

Use of bear bile from captive animals is legal in China, but is bile from wild bears is banned, as is importation from other countries.

The mammals are usually farmed for their bile for around 20 years and are killed when they stop producing it.

Four Paws rescuers had to cut open the hellish cage to free Soi
5
Four Paws rescuers had to cut open the hellish cage to free SoiCredit: Jam Press/Four Paws
He has now been rehomed and is thriving at an animal sanctuary
5
He has now been rehomed and is thriving at an animal sanctuaryCredit: Jam Press/Four Paws
Topics