Researchers discover unknown consumer base for unsustainable bear product use

A team of researchers led by San Diego Zoo Global made an unexpected discovery: the use of bear bile and body parts in traditional remedies consumed by new and pregnant mothers. The use of traditional medicines derived from bear bile and gallbladders by young and expecting mothers for ailments related to pregnancy had not been previously documented. With populations of wildlife -- including bears -- in decline across Southeast Asia, understanding this large consumer base could inform conservation efforts in the region.