Ricky Gervais Donates £150,000 to Help Rescue Bears From Vietnam’s Bile Farms
VERIFIED: Ricky Gervais has made a substantial donation to Animals Asia to support efforts to rescue bears still trapped on bile farms in Vietnam. However, the viral image circulating with the claim appears to be AI-generated and should not be presented as an authentic photograph of Gervais rescuing bears.
British comedian and animal-rights advocate Ricky Gervais has once again put his support behind efforts to protect animals suffering in captivity.
In December 2025, Animals Asia confirmed that Gervais had selected the organization as one of the animal charities receiving a donation from him. The organization specifically thanked Gervais for his support as it works toward rescuing the remaining bears kept on bile farms in Vietnam. (Animals Asia)
A £150,000 Donation for Animal Welfare
Gervais donated £150,000 (roughly US$200,000 at the time) to Animals Asia as part of a much larger charitable contribution from his Mortality tour.
According to the published breakdown of his donations, Animals Asia was among four organizations that each received £150,000. Overall, Gervais donated approximately £2.43 million to 22 animal charities from profits associated with his tour. (British Comedy Guide)
The money was not described as a payment that would immediately “free” a specific number of bears. Rather, it supports the organization's wider work to rescue and care for animals affected by the bear bile industry.
Animals Asia Is Working to Rescue the Remaining Bears
Animals Asia says that it has rescued nearly 300 bears in Vietnam over the past 25 years and is now working toward what it describes as the final chapter of ending bear bile farming in the country.
The organization currently estimates that around 150 bears remain on Vietnam's last bile farms. Its sanctuaries are being prepared to receive rescued animals and provide them with long-term care. (Animals Asia)
Bear bile farming involves keeping bears in captivity and extracting bile from their gallbladders for use in traditional medicine. Animals Asia has spent decades campaigning against the practice and rescuing bears from these conditions.
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| Rescued bear Animals Asia has official material documenting its rescued bears and sanctuary work. (Animals Asia) |
Gervais Has Supported Bear Rescue for Years
The recent donation is not Gervais' first involvement with animal welfare.
Animals Asia describes him as a long-time supporter of its work and notes that he has even been a guardian for a rescued bear named Derek. (Animals Asia)
His broader charitable record is also significant. In 2023, he donated approximately £1.9 million to animal charities from his Armageddon tour, while his Mortality tour generated another £2.43 million for animal organizations. (The Standard)
What About the Viral Photo?
The viral graphic claiming “Ricky Gervais donates $200K to free caged bears” should be treated carefully.
The donation itself is legitimate and independently confirmed by Animals Asia. However, the photograph showing Gervais apparently standing inside a facility with bears is not evidence of the donation and appears to be an AI-generated or digitally manipulated image.
Therefore, it would be misleading to use that image as though it were an actual photograph of Gervais personally handling or rescuing the bears.
The real story is already remarkable: Gervais donated £150,000 to Animals Asia, one of the organizations working to rescue the remaining bears trapped on bile farms in Vietnam. (Animals Asia)
The Bigger Picture
Animals Asia says its goal is to end bear bile farming in Vietnam and give rescued bears a safe environment where they can receive veterinary treatment, food, space and lifelong care.
With approximately 150 bears still estimated to be trapped on the country's remaining bile farms, organizations such as Animals Asia say the coming years could represent a crucial final stage in the decades-long campaign against the practice. (Animals Asia)
Gervais' donation will not single-handedly rescue every remaining bear, but it contributes to the broader rescue and sanctuary effort.
A viral image may be misleading, but in this case, the underlying good-news story is real.
Verification
🟢 CLAIM: LEGIT
Ricky Gervais really donated £150,000 to Animals Asia. (Animals Asia)
The donation was part of approximately £2.43 million given to 22 animal charities from his Mortality tour. (British Comedy Guide)
Animals Asia is genuinely working to rescue bears from Vietnam's bile farms. (Animals Asia)
🔴 The viral image itself should not be treated as an authentic photograph of the rescue.
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