Wildlife as a resource: the controversy of bear farming

In 2012, Guizhentang, a bear farm in China’s Fujian Province became the target of international criticism. On 1 February, the company was reportedly among 220 companies awaiting approval by the Growth Enterprise Board of the country’s Securities Regulator Commission for their applications to trade on the Shenzhen Stock Exchange, one of the top three stock markets (with Shanghai and Hong Kong) in the country. The report confirmed the speculation of some three years that Guizhentang, the biggest bear farm in southeastern China, was preparing to go public in an attempt to expand its operations. The bid for the initial public