The language is not included in the House version of the Farm Bill, but The HSUS is hopeful that a conference committee will include the bill in the final package. The freestanding Bear Protection Act in the House, H.R. 397, introduced by Rep. Elton Gallegly (R-CA) has 186 co-sponsors. Senator McConnell's freestanding Bear Protection Act, S. 1125, has 49 bipartisan cosponsors.

The Bear Protection Act would ban the import, export and interstate commerce of bear gall bladders, bile and other viscera, which are used in traditional Asian medicine.

"The Humane Society of the United States commends Senator McConnell for his long fight to protect bears from commercial killing for their parts," said Wayne Pacelle, HSUS senior vice president. "It is simply wrong to kill bears for their internal organs, and the Bear Protection Act establishes that principle as federal policy."

"For the second consecutive Congress, Senator Mitch McConnell successfully has shepherded legislation through the Senate to conserve bears, deter bear poaching, and facilitate prosecution of illegal bear parts traders," said Adam M. Roberts, Senior Legislative Associate at the Society for Animal Protective Legislation. "We hope the House of Representatives will support the Senate's wise action during the Conference on the Farm Bill."

The Bear Protection Act is urgently needed to protect bears from poachers who are increasingly turning to the world's largest remaining bear population - that of the American black bear found in mountainous regions of the U.S. and Canada - to feed the enormous appetite for bear parts among some members of increasingly affluent Asian populations around the world.

The HSUS began investigating the bear parts trade in the 1990s. A series of reports by The HSUS and others documented the increasing pressure on the American black bear as populations of Asian bears were virtually wiped out through a lethal combination of habitat destruction and the bear parts trade. Asian bear species are all now listed as endangered and international trade in their parts banned. At the same time, game wardens in the U.S. and Canada began finding dead bears with only certain parts removed.

"Consuming bear parts is thought to improve health and vitality," explains Pacelle. "Compared to other contraband, bear gall bladders are relatively easy to conceal and fetch a high price, so the incentive to trade in them is enormous. This amendment to the Farm Bill will help state wildlife law enforcement officers and prosecutors in their noble efforts."

A patchwork of state laws makes the bear parts trade difficult to stop. Investing resources in undercover operations to halt trade is difficult for state and federal law enforcement agencies. Combined with the small size of a bear gall bladder and the difficulty in differentiating between gall bladders of various species, enforcement of the current laws protecting American species of bears is impossible without a nationwide ban on the trade in all bear parts.

"With passage of the Bear Protection Act, the United States sends a strong message to poachers and illicit dealers that we will not stand by idly, watching our wild bears slaughtered for their gall bladders and their carcasses left to rot unceremoniously," Roberts added.

The HSUS is working closely with the Society for Animal Protective Legislation and other groups to push for passage of this important bill.

Rachel Querry/HSUS: (301) 258-8255 Adam Roberts/SAPL: (202) 337-2334