05/11/2026
As part of his £2.43 million donation to 22 animal charities from his Mortality tour, Ricky Gervais donated £150,000 to Animals Asia, which leads major efforts to end bear bile farming in Vietnam. 🐻💛🏥
Bear bile farming affects thousands of bears across parts of Asia, particularly moon bears and sun bears. These animals are often kept in extremely confined cages for many years while bile is extracted for use in traditional medicine.
Vietnam has committed to ending the practice entirely, with Animals Asia working to rescue the remaining farmed bears and transfer them to sanctuaries. There, rescued bears receive veterinary treatment and long-term rehabilitation to help them recover from years of confinement and gradually relearn natural behaviors.
Funding from donations like Gervais’s helps support rescue missions, medical care, and the lifetime sanctuary housing needed for bears that have spent most—or all—of their lives in captivity.
Gervais has repeatedly spoken out against bear bile farming, calling it one of the cruellest practices affecting animals today. His continued financial support has helped bring global attention to the issue and accelerate rescue efforts.
