“While bear bile farming is legal in China, using metal jackets, which crush the bear’s torso, and catheters to drain bile are against regulations. The only procedure permitted is the so-called humane, 'free-drip' method whereby a permanent hole (fistula) is cut into the bear’s abdomen for bile to leak through continually…These jackets are designed to restrain the bears, with sharp metal spikes poking into their necks to stop them bending their heads, and straps and strips of metal restricting their limb movements. They also have a permanent catheter running from the bear’s abdomen to a pouch under the jacket to make bile removal easy for the farmer. These contraptions are no better than medieval torture devices and inflict enormous pain and permanent damage on the bear.”

Animals Asia website [Includes graphic colour photographs.]