Ban Bear Paw Soup in China to Protect Endangered Bears
Petition Link – https://forcechange.com/520590/protected-endangered-bears-by-banning-bear-paw-soup/
Target: President Xi Jinping, Chinese government
Goal: End the cruel practice of bear farming and bear paw soup
A delicacy in mainland China that sells for upwards of $200 USD per bowl requires chopping the paws off a living bear and cooking the animal alive. Bear paw soup has been a specialty dish in China since the early 600s AD. The diner allegedly imbibes the strength and virility of the bear by eating the soup. Although bear farms and bear paw soup are illegal in the country, no enforcement and the high price of the commodity keeps the horrific practice going.
Bear farms across China reportedly house 20,000 bears in captivity. These bears suffer in abysmal living conditions, caged for life in spaces too small to stand up in or turn around. Many of these bears have been illegally harvested from the wild. To offer some aspect of showmanship to the preparation of the meal, the bears are often maimed and cooked in front of the dining audience. First, the paws are chopped off. Then, the bears are allegedly beaten alive to tenderize the meat and flavor the meat with blood. After the beating, the bears are dropped into boiling water, or onto hot coals, and cooked alive.
The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) was adopted in the late 1970s by 179 nations, including China, to combat illegal wildlife trade through global coordination. Bears are supposed to be protected under CITES. Unfortunately, CITES is not a legal entity. Participation is voluntary and each country must adopt its own laws that fall within the framework of CITES. Encourage China to crack down and enforce its own laws against this disgusting practice. Not only is this animal torture cruel, but it also likely contributes to the extinction of Asian bear species. Sign this petition to demand China put an end to bear farms and bear paw soup.
PETITION LETTER:
President Xi Jinping,
Your country has outlawed bear farms and bear paw soup, and yet a meal that involves chopping the paws off a living bear and boiling the animal alive is still considered a delicacy. The high price tag on the meal and the lack of legal enforcement have allowed this practice to thrive. An estimated 20,000 bears are being held at bear farms, made to suffer inhumane living conditions while they await this cruel death.
This torture must stop. Not only is it barbaric and incredibly cruel, but it may also be contributing to the extinction of species like the sun bear and Asiatic black bear. Live up to your CITES agreement and do something to end the black market trade, torture. and death of bears. We, the undersigned, demand an end to bear farms and bear paw soup.
Sincerely,
[Your Name Here]
Photo Credit: Animals Asia
