"eximago:  In China exists farms that extract bile from Asiatic black bears for use as a traditional medicine. To make the bile extraction process easier, the bears are kept in 2.6 feet x 4.4 feet x 6.5 feet (79 cm x 130 cm x 200 cm) cages called ""crush cages"" that prevent the bear from being able to move. Often kept in the cages for up to 12 years, the bears suffer severe muscle atrophy and mental trauma, often leading to self-destructive behaviors, such as the chewing of their own paws. To reach the bile, a tube is inserted in the animal's abdomen and gall bladder, causing the bear to moan and triggering the paw-chewing behavior. A method that's considered more humane is the use of a permanent hole in the bear's stomach that allows bile to drip freely from the gall bladder. Unfortunately, this can cause bile to enter the blood stream and is prone to infection, leading to a high mortality rate.  I usually only blog my art, but everyone should know about this. While most of us live pretty fantastic lives (even if they seem a little dull or depressing at times) we need to remember what life can be for other creatures on this earth."
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