After decades of successful conservation efforts and growing awareness about endangered species, poachers are once again threatening wildlife populations. Millions in East and Southeast Asia still hold misguided beliefs about the medicinal properties of bear bile, rhinoceros horns, monkey meat, and tiger parts. Despite the lack of scientific evidence supporting these claims, these products continue to be sold under the guise of traditional remedies or luxury delicacies, contributing to the illegal poaching of some of the world’s most vulnerable species.
In India, the situation of endangered species, particularly for bears, has become especially dire. The sloth bear, which is native to the Indian subcontinent, faces a growing threat due to illegal poaching, wildlife trafficking, and human-wildlife conflict. Bears, like many endangered species, are now victims of an illicit trade that fuels demand for their body parts, including bile, paws, and skin. In some parts of Asia, these products are sought after for use in traditional medicine, where bear bile is believed to cure a variety of ailments, including enhancing sexual potency. Wealthy couples in countries like China and Vietnam often pay large sums for these supposed cures, perpetuating the cycle of poaching.
The illegal wildlife trade, particularly the trafficking of sloth bear parts, is driving the species closer to extinction. With poaching a major issue in India, the situation is made worse by habitat loss and increasing conflicts with humans. According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), the sloth bear is listed as ‘vulnerable,’ with an estimated population of 6,000 to 11,000 remaining in the wild. India is home to around 90% of the global population, with smaller numbers found in Nepal and Sri Lanka. However, the demand for bear body parts, particularly gallbladders and paws, is not confined to Asia alone. The United Kingdom is the largest importer of illegal bear parts in Europe, further driving the international poaching network.
Tehelka’s cover story, Bears in Peril, investigates the resurgence of sloth bear poaching in India, revealing how bear bile extraction remains a lucrative business. According to Baijuraj MV, Director of Conservation Projects at Wildlife SOS, the gallbladders of bears are particularly valuable in Chinese Traditional Medicine (CTM). Here, the bile is thought to treat various ailments, despite no scientific proof of its effectiveness. This practice is devastating for sloth bears, as poachers often target females during the birthing season, killing the mothers and selling their cubs to middlemen.
Recent developments offer a glimmer of hope. On World Wildlife Day on March 3, Prime Minister Narendra Modi chaired a meeting of the National Board for Wildlife (NBWL) at Gujarat’s Gir National Park. This meeting marked the first time Modi had convened the board in his tenure, and it focused on reviewing and strengthening wildlife conservation programmes in India. Such initiatives may provide a path forward in the battle to protect endangered species like the sloth bear.
