Nine years of keeping sloth bears off the streets

Bengaluru: Wildlife SOS, an NGO that was instrumental ending the barbarous practice of using sloth bears to dance on the streets, continues to work towards their welfare.

Though the last dancing bear was taken off the country’s streets on December 18, 2009, Wildlife SOS at present is taking care of 628 rescued sloth bears.

The organisation’s Dancing Bear Rehabilitation Project was supported by Union Ministry of Environment and Forests and the state forest departments. As part of the project there are four rescue facilities in Agra, Bannerghatta, Bhopal and West Bengal.

As part of their holistic approach, Wildlife SOS rehabilitated the Kalandar communities, who were formerly involved in keeping sloth bears for this barbarous practice. They were provided education and alternative forms of livelihood to wean them away from their age-old vocation, which they have been practicing for more than 400 years.

Kartick Satyanarayan, co-founder & CEO of Wildlife SOS said, “In order to protect the indigenous sloth bear population, efforts had to be made at different tiers. We focused not only on rescuing the bears, but also to help empower the Kalandar community."

“Our journey was challenge, as it was difficult to gain the trust and cooperation from the Kalandar community, who felt that Wildlife SOS was attempting to take away their only means of survival," he added.

Raju’s walk to freedom A bear named Raju, who was the last one to be taken off the streets in 2009, had spent the first seven years of his life in inconceivable pain and fear. His keepers carried out a brutal indoctrination process to break his spirit.

A red-hot iron poker was forcibly pierced through his tender muzzle and a coarse rope was then strung through the fresh wound. For the entirety of his life in captivity, this short rope would cause Raju agonizing pain, forcing him to rear to his feet in distress every time his owner pulled at it. Resultantly, he would jump in agony and this act was interpreted as the bear dancing.

Today, sixteen-year-old Raju is safe and living a life free of pain and fear with his fellow rescued sloth bears at the Wildlife SOS Bannerghatta Bear Rescue Center

Dr Arun. A. Sha Director - Research & Veterinary Operations, Wildlife SOS said, “Over the years, we have watched Raju grow and transform into a strong and spirited bear. It has been a great journey for all of us, from the place where all hope seemed to be lost to this little haven where Raju and hundreds of other bears have found a home and their freedom.”

Liberating 628 highly endangered sloth bears from the centuries-old tradition of ‘Dancing Bears’, wildlife conservation charity Wildlife SOS made history by rescuing Raju. No longer subjected to the atrocities associated with this practice, today this iconic sloth bear celebrates nine years of freedom with Wildlife SOS.