September 2008

Four sloth bears, including a cub, were rescued from a life spent ‘dancing' by authorities in Nepal last week, acting on information provided by WSPA member society the Wildlife Trust of India (WTI).

The three adult bears had been trained to dance and were destined to be sold to Kalandars - nomadic bear owners - in India. This illegal cross-border wildlife trade in poached bears sells the animals into a lifetime of suffering, as they are forced into unnatural behaviors, become ill from poor diets, and often develop repetitive behaviors that indicate mental trauma.

WTI and WSPA initiated the Integrated Sloth Bear Conservation and Welfare Project in 2005 to work towards the holistic conservation of sloth bears in India, by providing alternative livelihoods for Kalandars and ensuring that the bears do not endure a life of suffering.

Read the full rescue story on WTI's website >>

Learn more about WSPA's work with dancing bears >>