Entertainment, hunting, food and folk medicine Bear

the dancing bear william frederick witherington, 1822

bears in captivity have centuries been used entertainment. have been trained dance, , kept baiting in europe @ least since 16th century. there 5 bear-baiting gardens in southwark, london @ time; archaeological remains of 3 of these have survived. across europe, nomadic romani bear handlers called ursari lived busking bears 12th century.

a nomadic ursar, romani bear-busker. drawing theodor aman, 1888

bears have been hunted sport, food, , folk medicine. meat dark , stringy, tough cut of beef. in cantonese cuisine, bear paws considered delicacy. bear meat should cooked thoroughly, can infected parasite trichinella spiralis.

the peoples of eastern asia use bears body parts , secretions (notably gallbladders , bile) part of traditional chinese medicine. more 12,000 bears thought kept on farms in china, vietnam, , south korea production of bile. trade in bear products prohibited under cites, bear bile has been detected in shampoos, wine , herbal medicines sold in canada, united states , australia.