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Sun Bear Helarctos malayanus often dubbed as honey bear in Indonesia © WWF-Indonesia / Saipul Siagian

Hard to Bear trade in bear bile and gall bladder in Malaysia

Sun Bear Helarctos malayanus often dubbed as honey bear in Indonesia © WWF-Indonesia / Saipul Siagian

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Published 29 May 2015

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Survey finds medicines from bear parts widely available in Malaysia

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, 29th May 2015—A new TRAFFIC study has found that the illegal trade in bear bile and gall bladder for traditional medicine is open and widespread across Malaysia and is potentially a serious threat to wild bears. 

Hard to Bear: trade in bear bile and gall bladder in Malaysia

Report author(s):
Lee Siow Ling, Elizabeth A. Burgess, Serene C.L. Chng

Publication date:
May 2015


Notes:

Bears are listed as totally protected species under Malaysia’s Wildlife Conservation Act 2010. Bears are also listed on Appendix I of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Fauna and Flora (CITES) and cannot be internationally traded for commercial purposes. In line with this, Malaysia’s International Trade of Endangered Species Act 2008 criminalizes the import and export of bears as well as its parts or derivatives.