Wildlife SOS rescues 500th Bear in India

[Guest guest]

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http://www.wildlifesos.org/News/Dancing%20Bear%20 " CHITRA/Chitra.html

 

500th Bear rescued marks a turning point in the history of Bear dancing in

India

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*December 19, 2008 *

 

Six years after the first rescued 'dancing bear' arrived at one of its Bear

Rescue Centers in India, Wildlife S.O.S has rescued its 500th sloth bear

from a life of misery and suffering.

 

Chitra - a female Sloth bear was surrendered earlier today at the Wildlife

SOS Bear Center by her Kalandar master and she was received by a jubilant

Wildlife SOS team at the rescue center. Chitra is approximately 12 years old

but weighs a scrawny 62 kilos. Chitra was both frightened and timid and

crouched on the floor expecting blows any moment. Chitra was allowed to rest

and get over her fear of her new surroundings.

 

Geeta Seshamani of Wildlife SOS said " Chitra's muzzle was painfully swollen

and inflamed as it had been pierced several times in the past which resulted

in a huge tear down one side. The ring had been inserted into her delicate

muzzle when she was a little cub just months old and it was biting into her

delicate muzzle and stank of pus. We had to remove the ring surgically along

with her neck ropes that were also very tight. The stick that was

surrendered along with her by her Kalandar master was put away for ever. "

 

Soon after the ring and the ropes that bound her were removed, she started

relaxing and exploring her new home….the bear haven where she would now life

out her retired life, with no pain or suffering and definitely no dancing!

Chitra's paws were caked with mud and hardened with calluses. Chitra has

trod many weary miles for her kalandar owner to earn him money. Rarely had

we seen paws that hardened and sore with interdigital inflammation and raw

patches caused by constant friction of hot tar roads. Chitra's new residence

includes a den that overlooks a quiet lush green garden. She can walk in

this small enclosure and sleep in the den away from noise and intrusions

till she has recovered from the trauma of being a dancing bear.

 

Dr.Arun – Wildlife SOS Vet said " Chitra Bear's canine teeth had been knocked

out, with great trauma to the roots, and she came in suffering a long

standing mouth inflammation with ulceration inside. She is suffering from

diarrohea and we are giving her Glucose in water and electrolytes to keep

her going. I am confident that she will soon be eating our healthy diet of

honey, milk, porridge, rotis and delicious fruits heartily, and will improve

in health. "

 

Kartick Satyanarayan, Co-founder of Wildlife SOS states, " This rescue was

made possible thanks to the commitment and dedication of our supporters and

international partners. Although we are proud of the life we can offer

Chitra, and all of our rescued bears, in the sanctuary, we would prefer that

there not be a need for these sanctuaries and the bears could live unharmed

and free from threats in the wild. "

 

Alan Knight of International Animal Rescue UK says " It is a great milestone

in the history of wildlife conservation to rescue the 500th Dancing Bear "

 

Mary Hutton of Free the Bears Fund Australia said " FTB has been associated

with Wildlife SOS from the very start and is determined to help end this

cruel practice and the 500th bear rescue

is such an important day for all of us. "

 

It costs Wildlife S.O.S Rs 1 lakh (equivalent to approximately $ 2000 USD)

to rescue and rehabilitate a bear and its owner.

*Donations<http://www.wildlifesos.org/Donation/donationhome.htm>are

welcomed at

http://www.wildlifesos.com <http://www.wildlifesos.org/index.htm>*

 

Wildlife S.O.S is supported by the Govt. of India, International Animal

Rescue U.K, Free the Bears Fund in Australia, One Voice in France, Humane

Society International, Stichting Libois and Stichting Vrienden Beekse Bergen

& Terra–et–Faune.