Singer Uyen Linh who won TV singing contest Vietnam Idol last year is the 100,000th person to sign a pledge promising not to use bear bile and other products made from bear to protect this animal in Vietnam.

The pledge is part of a campaign initiated by the Education for Nature Vietnam (ENV) which has taken place in 13 provinces countrywide since June 2008.

An event called “100,000 signatures to protect bears” will be held this Friday at Hanoi’s Picomall where participants can obtain information about the species in Vietnam, sign a pledge and meet Uyen Linh.

“Vietnam is the second homeland of Tibetan and Malayan bears. These two species are both in danger due to illegal hunting and smuggling,” said Tran Viet Hung, ENV’s deputy director.

He said bears are often are hunted and sold to commercial farms for their bile and other body parts in Vietnam and ENV is thus organizing this event to raise awareness.

In Asian, bear bile is believed to be able cure numerous ailments ranging from fever to heart disease. People also drink bear bile with rice wine to cure eye problems and liver pain.

Bear bile has been used in traditional Chinese medicine for over 3,000 years.

VNE/Tuoitrenews