GUIZHENTANG, a Fujian-based pharmaceutical company that harvests bile from live bears to use in its products, last week opened its bear farm to Chinese journalists for a brief visit.

    Guizhentang did not permit reporters to take video during the bile extraction process, urged reporters to leave immediately after the process was completed and refused to take questions. The farm’s open day was just a show.

    Although Guizhentang said bears appear to remain quiet during bile extractions, the visit showed they are kept in coffin-sized cages with wounds that create constant suffering.

    While Guizhentang’s bid to raise stock funds in a public offering should be halted, the government should consider banning bear bile extraction altogether. Synthetic substitutes are available for medical use.

    Zhang Liang via e-mail