Opinion

Every bear I treat is an individual. They feel pain, joy and they make
choices

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   Kevin, relaxing. Photograph: Jen O'Dwyer/Supplied

   Each bear that comes into our care is an individual. They have a name.
   They have a personality. All of our medical attention is focused and
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   They have a personality. All of our medical attention is focused and
   tailored to the individual and how best to ensure the physical and
   mental needs of that individual. This may mean dental procedures to
   remove broken or rotten teeth, eye examinations to check for evidence
   of cataracts, abdominal surgery to remove damaged and diseased gall
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   Our ultimate aim is to end bear bile farming, but that means ending the
   exploitation and suffering of each individual bear. It’s important to
   remember this and to be focused on this as a vet, so that the welfare
   of each animal is at the centre of everything I do.
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   of each animal is at the centre of everything I do.

   Like so many issues with the use of animals by humans, the individual
   is forgotten. You have only to look upon a bear to see his or her
   personality. Each bear shows different preferences in play and food,
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   a dog transition from a tethered being – without access to water or
   shelter – to a companion of the house, who is walked and bathed but
   still gladly guards his companions. This is happening one individual at
   a time and I get to be a small part of it as a bear vet working in
   China.