Is there an illegal trade in bear parts?
Black bears nationwide continue to be poached for their gallbladders, paws, and other parts, which are illegally traded for use in the traditional medicinal products of some cultures. Bear parts are sold on the black market for thousands of dollars. The international trade of certain bear parts and derivatives is prohibited by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES). While roughly 40,000 American black bears are legally hunted in North America each year, it is estimated that the same number or more are illegally poached to supply the illegal trade in bear parts.
