00:00 The Vietnamese government agree that this is a shocking practice.
00:06 They don't want it in their country.
00:07 It will be all completely illegal by 2026.
00:12 But they're already closing farms and they're having to build a sanctuary because there's
00:15 about 300 poor bears stuck on these farms.
00:20 So that's the point is that they are trying to rescue as many of these bears.
00:24 So it will be over in Vietnam.
00:26 And the next challenge is to make sure it's over throughout the world.
00:31 Now what exactly is bear bile farming?
00:33 It's where mainly moon bears but also sun and brown bears are held in captivity farms
00:38 in Asia, having their bile extracted from their gallbladders in order for it to be used
00:42 in traditional medicines.
00:43 And despite the availability of inexpensive and effective herbal alternatives, bear bile
00:48 farming continues to have an extremely severe impact on these bears' physical and psychological
00:53 well-being.
00:54 Now, as Animals Asia and the Vietnamese government work together to bring an end to this farming,
01:00 it's hoped that these bears can be rescued and an end will be brought to their suffering.
01:05 Having just spent some time with these amazing animals, feeding them through the bars obviously,
01:09 but feeding them their medication stuck in bananas and honey and they're just standing
01:12 there going, "Ugh!"
01:15 And they've only known pain and fear.
01:19 And I sort of think if it was a human being who'd been through what they've been, you
01:22 wouldn't want to come to the bars and have an interaction.
01:25 You'd go, "No way.
01:27 I'm over.
01:28 I'm not coming near you."
01:29 But they're not.
01:30 I'm not being fanciful.
01:32 They teach us a lot about forgiveness and about growth.
01:36 The children of bear farmers have said, "You can't do this anymore.
01:40 This is just not okay."
01:42 And the farmers see it differently.
01:44 And they say, "Okay, actually, I think I understand."
01:48 Some of them are even fond of these animals, some of them, not all of them, but there are
01:52 more and more people becoming aware and caring about supporting.
01:57 You have to speak up for these guys because they can't.
02:00 They're building this third sanctuary because they need somewhere to take the bears to.
02:05 And the Vietnamese government have said, "We'll help stop this, but where do we put the bears
02:08 and animals Asia?"
02:09 Go, "We'll make a place.
02:10 We'll make a place."
02:12 And she takes them and she puts them into her sanctuary and they have a blessed life.
02:17 They have, you know, they have medication for their ailments.
02:20 They have given a name.
02:22 They have toys.
02:23 They have foraging.
02:24 They have swimming pools.
02:25 Fundraising, education and awareness are all methods of helping bring an end to the suffering
02:31 for these animals.
02:32 And as Leslie says, just talking about the issue and spreading the word could bring about
02:37 a peaceful life for these creatures just as quick as anything else.
02:41 Even talking about it is something to contribute and everybody can talk about it.
02:48 People get frightened, Iona.
02:49 They get scared.
02:50 I don't want to see horrible pictures of bears with pipes sticking out of their abdomen.
02:54 I don't want to see that.
02:55 You know, well, actually, you don't have to see that.
02:57 You will see them rescuing these bears.
02:59 It's the most joyful thing to see.
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