Stop using bear bile, switch to better herbs

An Asiatic black bear squashed into a tiny cage in a bile factory in China. Its cracked paw pad is due to lack of use. Photo: Animals Asia

Warning: Some of the images in this article may be considered disturbing

Bears! Most of us are used to seeing cute, fluffy soft toys or images of them gambolling along a riverbank in nature documentaries. But for many bears, the reality is starkly different.