Press release: World's biggest bear sanctuary celebrates its 5th anniversary on Christmas Eve

[Guest guest]

Strictly embargoed until 24 December 2007

 

THE WORLD'S BIGGEST BEAR SANCTUARY - FUNDED BY SUSSEX ANIMAL CHARITY -

CELEBRATES ITS FIFTH BIRTHDAY ON CHRISTMAS EVE

 

 

 

24 December 2007 - The most successful bear sanctuary in the world - which

is funded by a UK animal charity - celebrates its 5th Anniversary on

Christmas Eve this year. The Agra Bear Sanctuary in India first opened its

doors on 24 December 2002 and took in six dancing bears rescued from the

streets. Since then, International Animal Rescue from East Sussex and

Indian partners Wildlife SOS have rescued 421 bears, more than half of which

are housed in the Agra sanctuary, not far from the Taj Mahal. The rest are

cared for in two other sanctuaries set up by WSOS and IAR in central and

southern India.

 

 

 

Christmas Eve 2007 also marks a milestone in the campaign to free the

dancing bears. It is estimated that there are still 400 dancing bears on

the streets of India, so together the two charities have rescued just over

half of them: their aim now is to end the cruel practice completely by 2010.

 

 

 

Alan Knight OBE, CEO of International Animal Rescue, says: " We have come a

long way since Christmas Eve 2002. From humble beginnings five years ago

the Agra sanctuary has grown into a centre of excellence for the rescue and

rehabilitation of dancing bears.

 

 

 

" We started with six frightened and traumatised bears that had been kept

captive on the end of a rope ever since they were taken from the wild as

cubs. When we removed the ropes their first reaction was bewilderment and

fear. There will always be a special place in our hearts for those first

bears we took in. Since those early days we have expanded the sanctuary and

now we have more than 100 acres where the bears can roam freely and leave

behind the pain and trauma of their lives on the streets. "

 

 

 

The sanctuary now boasts a state-of-the-art veterinary surgery where the

bears have the vicious ropes removed from their noses and they are treated

for any injuries and diseases. Led by a volunteer team from the UK,

pioneering dental work is also carried out on some of the bears whose teeth

have been broken off to make them easier to control. The vets and keepers

at Agra have become experts in the field of bear rescue and rehabilitation.

 

 

 

Special environmental enrichment is provided to stimulate and amuse the

bears, particularly the small group of blind bears who have lost their sight

through malnutrition or ferocious beatings from their handlers.

 

 

 

In October 2006 IAR and WSOS received a special award from the Indian

government for successfully removing all the dancing bears from the tourist

routes around Agra and the historic city of Fatehpur Sikri.

 

 

 

Kartick Satyanarayan, Co-Founder of Wildlife SOS, said: " Initially the

challenge of rescuing all the bears off the streets seemed huge and many

people were sceptical about how successful we would be. However, thanks to

the support of the Indian Government and our partners in the UK, the

campaign has gathered a real momentum and I feel there's no stopping us. "

 

 

 

Bijli bear was terribly abused by her kalandar handlers before she was

rescued and it took some time to get over her fear. She had had several

owners in the past and was deeply traumatised when she arrived at the

sanctuary. Today she is a healthy bear with a glossy coat and has finally

managed to forget the pain of the past.

 

 

 

Bijli's friend Lalloo still has the ugly scars on his nose where the rope

had torn through his muzzle. His kalandar owner was very scared of him and

held him tightly on a short rope right up to the minute when he handed him

over. Poor Lalloo's left eye had been gouged out by one of his former

handlers - a lasting reminder of his terrible past.

 

 

 

Alan Knight concludes: " How can we ever compensate these bears for the pain

they have suffered at the hands of the human race? On 24 December this year

we will certainly celebrate the success of the Agra sanctuary and of the

campaign in general, but we won't forget the bears still on the streets this

Christmas, and still in need of our help. The biggest celebration will be

when there are no more dancing bears in India because they are all safely in

our care. "

 

 

 

Ends.

 

For further information, contact Lis Key, IAR, on +44 1825 767688/ mobile:

+44 7957 824379

 

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

 

 

 

EDITOR'S NOTES:

 

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.

 

 

 

A captured sloth bear is trained with terrible cruelty to become a dancing

bear. Its claws are ripped out and its teeth broken off with a hammer to

make it easier for its handler to control. Worst of all, a red hot poker is

pushed up through its nose and out through the top of its snout. A rope is

threaded through the open wound. When the handler raises the rope above his

head, the bear stands up on its hind legs to escape the pain, making it

appear as though it is dancing.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lis Key, Communications Manager | E: <lis

lis | T: +44 (0)1825 767688 | M: +44 (0)7957 824379

 

 

<http://www.iar.org.uk> Visit the IAR website

 

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