A former colleague brought to my notice a very heart-rending initiative run by Wildlife SOS, a non-profit organisation, which works in the field of Wildlife rescue and Rehabilitation. One of their main project is the rescue and rehabilitation of 'dancing bears'.

Have you seen a dancing bear before? A dancing bear is a sloth bear that has been taken from her mother (she is shot) at the age of a few weeks and trained to stand on her hind legs.

The bears do not dance - in the same way as India's cobras in a basket do not sway to the pipe of a snake charmer - they just swing to avoid the stick which they think is going to beat them. They are exploited by a gypsy tribe, called Kalandars for street entertainment purposes.

Cruel Intentions:

The so-called tribe torture these cubs to a great extent. First they capture them, then put them in an inverted basket all alone, and as they get disoriented they are removed out of the basket. Before they turn six-months old these cubs are held down brutally while a man forces a crude iron needle with a rope through their soft delicate muzzles. By the time they are a year old their teeth are knocked out with hammers without any anesthetic.


They are trained to stand upright by putting hot coals under their feet. A jute rope is taken through the muzzle and this rope keeps the nose inflamed and the bear in great pain throughout their short life – for these bears rarely survive more than seven to eight years which is less than one fourth of their natural life. Their nails are pulled out and often a deep cut is made on their necks which is hidden by the thick collar that holds them so that the pain keeps them fearful. This is indeed a pathetic treatment of an animal. India had actually banned using bears for entertainment under the Wildlife Protection Act of 1972, but nomads still keep and use bears for entertainment at fairs and festivals. These omnivorous animals are also hunted by the poachers for their Gall bladder, which is believed to be a valuable ingredient of medicine.

Wildlife SOS:

This organisation has rescued 370 sloth bears from leading agonising and traumatic lives as Dancing Bears. Wildlife SOS has recently got an extension to its existing sanctuary at Agra. With this, it is on its way to rescue the around 500-600 sloth bears who are still being exploited on the streets for entertainment purposes in the next few years.

Wildlife SOS runs four Bear Rescue Centers in India - Agra, Bhopal, Bangalore and Hyderabad - to bring an end to the cruel practice of Dancing Bears. One of its largest facility is in Agra, spread over 160 acre, its also the only facility of its kind in the world for rescued Sloth Bears.

Kalandar community, who depend on this activity to make their livelihood, are also encouraged by Wildlife SOS to take up their rehab program where they can work at their rehab centres.

Traumatizing or torturing any animal is an act of shame. We have the right to live freely, why not animals?

Resources:

Indian Pr Wire

Daily India

Abolitionist

Image Source:

Wildlife SOS

Iran Daily

Dancing bears 'tradition' to be halted in India