Bear Gall Bladders

December 4, 2007

Who knew?

The illegal trafficking of gall bladders from California's black bears is such a lucrative business that it's arguably a bigger profit motive than heroin, all of which came to light this past week when a San Diego man was arrested in a sting conducted by the California Fish and Game.

Huong C. Tovan, 54, of San Diego, was busted up in Redding for attempting to buy bear gall bladders from undercover game wardens.

"The illegal trade of bear parts is a serious violation of Fish and Game law," said the DFG chief of enforcement, Nancy Foley. "The lucrative profits derived from the illegal trade of bear products, most notably bear gall bladders, entice poachers who risk felony convictions."

Many bears are poached solely for their gall bladders and paws resulting in the wanton waste of the animal. "The awareness by most Californians of this illegal and disgraceful practice often aids in the
investigation and arrest of bear poachers," Foley said.

Bears are the only species with a gall bladder that produces fairly large quantities of bile, or bile salts -- an ingredient that has been used in traditional Asian medicines for as long as 3,000 years.

It is reported to cure a number of ailments, including cirrhosis of the liver, high blood pressure, jaundice, diabetes, heart disease, fever, headache, hemorrhoids, severe burns, and tooth decay. It also is used in health care products such as shampoo, and as a food delicacy.

While synthetic forms of UDCA (the active ingredient in bile that has been proven to have some medicinal qualities) are available, there is a tradition that indicates the cure must come from nature to be effective.

Prices for bear gall bladders are astronomically high in some countries — in Japan, gall bladders can sell for $1,500 to $4,000 each.

A bear gall bladder is approximately the size of a human thumb, and is virtually indistinguishable from the gall bladder of a cow or a pig in its dried, "fig-like" state. Fakes have flooded the market, leading some people to go to extraordinary lengths to obtain authentic gall bladders.

This has led to an increase in poaching across North America and Russia. Having the bear killed before your eyes ensures that the gall bladder is the real thing.

Fish and Game wardens received an anonymous tip through its CalTIP (Californians Turn in Poachers, 1-888-334-2258) hotline that a San Diego area man was soliciting bear hunters in Shasta County for bear parts, prompting the start of an investigation in October 2007. Wardens in other western states reported receiving similar complaints. On Oct. 8, a sting operation was conducted against Tovan in which he purchased bear gall bladders from undercover California wardens in Redding.

Wardens obtained a search warrant from a Shasta County Superior Court Judge for Tovan’s vehicle and residence in San Diego, which resulted in his arrest on several counts of felony trafficking in bear parts.

Tovan was transported and booked into the jail in Shasta County where most of the violations had occurred. The search and seizure of evidence revealed an accomplished bear gall bladder processing operation. It is suspected most of the bear parts were bound for Southeast Asian countries.

Purchase or sale of bear parts are violations of the Fish and Game Code and prosecuted as felonies. Convictions are punishable by fines up to $5,000 and up to one year in state prison or county jail.

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