The traditional way to acquire bear bile was to kill a wild animal and remove its gall bladder.

It is threatened by the use of bear bile in traditional Chinese medicine and habitat encroachment.

South Korea remains one of two countries to allow bear bile farming to continue legally.

Ursodeoxycholic acid is found in large quantities in bear bile.

"Our research provides evidence that other easily available animal bile and plants can be used as bear bile substitutes."

"The final choice will have to be to use plants to substitute bear bile," he will tell the conference at Central Hall.

Now even tradtional medicine doctors are advising against the use of bear bile.

No one is going to die from a lack of bear bile.

Domestic trade of bear bile is legal but regulated in China and Japan and illegal in other countries.

Until about 30 years ago, the only way to acquire bear bile was by killing a wild animal and removing its gall bladder.