Press release: Dental team gives more rescued bears a pain-free future

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UK DENTAL TEAM RETURNS TO INDIA TO GIVE MORE RESCUED BEARS A PAIN-FREE

FUTURE

 

 

 

 

 

20 March 2006 - A dentist and a specialist dental vet who carried out

pioneering surgery on rescued dancing bears last year have made a second

trip to India to give more bears a pain-free future.

 

 

 

Dentist Paul Cassar is a trustee of Sussex charity International Animal

Rescue (IAR) which rescues bears from the streets of India and rehabilitates

them in a sanctuary in Agra, not far from the Taj Mahal. Last November Paul

and dental vet Lisa Milella carried out root canal work and other major

dental treatment on some of the bears. They also trained Indian vets at the

sanctuary to treat other bears with similar problems in future. From the

moment they examined the mouth of their first patient, a grumpy bear called

Anthony, they knew that their work would transform the lives of those bears

that were in agony from the state of their teeth and gums.

 

 

 

Dancing bears in India have their teeth smashed off with a hammer when they

are only young cubs to make them easier to control and protect their

handlers from being bitten. The remaining roots become inflamed and

infected, causing intense pain, but the festering wounds are left untreated

by the Kalandar nomads who use the bears to beg money from tourists.

 

 

 

Paul went to great lengths to research how best to treat the bears and to

acquire the specialist tools for the job. He and Lisa handled some very

challenging cases requiring long hours of surgery. The terrible state of

the bears' teeth and gums made it painfully clear that their suffering

hadn't ended when the ropes were removed from their noses.

 

 

 

After his first trip to the sanctuary, Paul Cassar commented: " This entire

trip has been the most amazing and memorable experience for me. It has been

a privilege to help IAR, of which I am proud to be a trustee, in this very

special and worthwhile way. "

 

 

 

However, both Paul and Lisa were frustrated that they didn't have time to

treat more bears during their trip, even though they were operating until

the early hours of every morning.

 

 

 

Lisa said " I can't help thinking of the bears that we have left untreated. I

have the utmost respect for the work of the Indian vets at the sanctuary and

it has been an honour to assist them in this way - I just wish we could have

stayed longer and set more bears on the road to recovery. "

 

 

 

Now Lisa and Paul have given up more of their time to go back to India and

treat the bears they left behind.

 

 

 

Alan Knight, CEO of International Animal Rescue, said: " We can't thank Paul

and Lisa enough for making this trip not once but twice. Their commitment

is making a real difference to the bears' lives. Their reward will be to

see their patients living free from pain and know that it is thanks to their

own skill and dedication. "

 

 

 

Two students from Edinburgh University are conducting a behavioural study on

the bears pre- and post-dental treatment to identify and measure any changes

in the bears before and after surgery. This will be the first time that this

type of research has been carried out and it should provide useful

information on the bears in the Agra sanctuary.

 

 

 

Ends.

 

 

 

For further information and images please contact Lis Key at IAR on 01825

767688/mobile 07957 824379. <lis lis

 

www.iar.org.uk <http://www.iar.org.uk/>

 

 

 

EDITOR'S NOTE:

 

 

 

Indian dancing bears are sloth bears that poachers have snatched from the

wild as tiny cubs, usually by killing their mother. Sloth bears are listed

on Appendix 1 of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species

(CITES) and all international trade in them is prohibited. As well as being

poached for the dancing bear trade, bear parts are thought to have healing

properties and bears are highly prized for use in traditional medicines.

 

 

 

There are estimated to be between 800 and 1200 bears still on the streets of

India. A dancing bear in India is trained with brute force. His teeth are

knocked out with a hammer and his claws pulled out with pliers. A red hot

poker is pushed up through one nostril and out through his sensitive snout.

A rough length of rope rubs incessantly against the open wound. He is

brought up on to his hind legs by one yank on the rope - when he appears to

be dancing, he is really writhing in agony.

 

 

 

Agra Bear Rescue Facility, created on land donated by the Uttar Pradesh

Forest Department, is managed by Indian charity Wildlife SOS. Nearly 200

bears have been rescued since the sanctuary first opened its doors in

December 2002. After treatment for their wounds and a period of

quarantine, the bears live in a natural forest habitat, cared for by a team

of experienced Indian keepers and vets.

 

 

 

IAR recently secured a site at the Bannerghatta Safari Park near Bangalore

for a second sanctuary. The park is already home to 26 rescued bears which

are now receiving care and treatment from vets and handlers from Wildlife

SOS.

 

 

 

International Animal Rescue is the sole UK funder of the Agra sanctuary and

works in partnership with Wildlife SOS to cut the bears free and stop the

dance.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dedicated to the rescue and rehabilitation of suffering animals

 

 

 

<BLOCKED::http://www.iar.org.uk/> www.iar.org.uk

 

International Animal Rescue, Lime House, Regency Close, Uckfield, East

Sussex TN22 1DS

 

Tel: +44 (0) 1825 767688 Fax: +44 (0) 1825 768012

 

Registered UK charity number 802132