Campaign launched against bear dancing

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Link: http://www.ndtv.com/environment/WILDLIFE.asp?id=100751 & callid=1

 

Campaign launched against bear dancing

 

Press Trust of India

 

Sunday, February 11, 2007 (New Delhi):

 

Hotels, tour operators and bookstores in the national capital have

joined a campaign to stop the traditional profession of bear dancing.

 

The campaign " Say no to bear dancing " is launched by Wildlife Trust

of India (WTI) and the World Society for Protection of Animals (WSPA)

to create awareness among people, mainly foreign tourists, to

discourage bear shows.

 

Bear dancing, in which the muzzled animals sway and gyrate on hind

legs to popular tunes, was declared illegal in 1998 and made a

punishable offence under wildlife laws.

 

" This is the first part of our campaign. Gradually we will target

places beyond the national capital, " says WTI director (Marketing)

Mandeepa Ahluwalia.

 

Twenty-eight hotels, including Claridges and Ashoka, have placed

posters, bookmarks and literatures regarding discouraging bear shows

in their guest rooms, lobbies and reception counters.

 

Historical cities like Delhi, Jaipur and Agra are visited by

thousands of tourists every year, where they are also entertained by

kalandars or bear trainers with their shows, she says.

 

Major tour operators like Cox and Kings, SITA, Le Passage to India,

Travel Inn, India Safari and Asian Adventures are carrying these

awareness materials in their coaches and taxies.