100 Quebec black bears slaughtered as partial of gallbladder-trafficking ring, officials say

After a three-year investigation, Quebec wildlife officials contend they have distant a black bear gallbladder-trafficking network.

The poaching ring allegedly operated in Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean, Mauricie, Laval and Quebec’s North Shore.

More than 100 black bears were slaughtered over 3 years, wildlife officials said. 

The bears were allegedly killed for their gallbladders, that are value a tiny happening on a Asian black marketplace for their ostensible recovering properties.

On Quebec’s black market, a bear’s gallbladder can sell for adult to $250. Abroad, that figure rises to $10,000.

The gallbladders seized during a searches were put in cosmetic bags. (Priscilla Plamondon Lalancette/Radio-Canada)

“Each chairman endangered in a network gets a share, so a value increases given there are several stakeholders whose ultimate idea is to strech a Asian market,” pronounced Jasmin Larouche, a conduct of wildlife insurance in Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean.

The organ is rarely desired for a bile it contains, some people desiring it is effective in treating several illnesses, as good as being an aphrodisiac.

“It is famous for several ostensible medicinal properties,” pronounced Sophie Massé, a biologist from a Wildlife Ministry.

“Its medicinal properties are not during all recognized by Western medicine.”

Selling bear gallbladders has been criminialized given 1998 in Quebec, in sequence to equivocate a bears’ slaughter.

Some 160 wildlife officers participated in a operation, that began in 2015. About 60 people were interviewed, and 16 searches took place.

Those charged face a sum of 121 charges and could face fines adding adult to some-more than $325,000.

These bear paws are partial of a justification that was seized. (Priscilla Plamondon Lalancette/Radio-Canada)

Jasmin could not contend how many gallbladders were sold.

This isn’t a initial time Quebecers have been endangered in poaching a organ — in 2003, dual Quebec men were charged with bootleg possession, transport, trade and trafficking of gallbladders, according to a news in the Globe and Mail during that time.

In 1991, CBC reported that wildlife officers were endangered that a trafficking of animal parts, generally involving black bears, was out of control. 

Article source: https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/black-bear-poaching-ring-1.4754071?cmp=rss