Pills, powders, vials and flakes : the bear bile trade in Asia
Ursus thibetanus
Bears : status survey and conservation action plan
The eight species of bear live in more than 65 countries or autonomous regions in four continents, in a variety of habitats from tropical rainforests to arctic ice. Numerous human cultures around the world symbolically or physically try to incorporate the power of bears into their people. But all species have declined in numbers due to the impacts of human activities, including: habitat alteration and destruction; unregulated killing of bears for sport; sale of parts for medicinal products; and protection of crops or livestock.