Karachi’s last dancing bear rescued
September 1, 2017: Officials of the Sindh Wildlife Department (SWD) rescued Karachi’s last dancing bear from a private mini zoo owner in Nazimabad yesterday. The handicapped Baluchi black bear, which is allegedly missing two paws, is temporarily housed in a cage at the Karachi Zoo. Our source at SWD informed us of plans to shift the bear to a sanctuary in Punjab after the necessary legal action is taken against the perpetrators. According to the source, the department tried to rescue the same bear when it was on public display in Lyari about a year ago. The successful rescue from Nazimabad marks the end of a cruel era in the illegal bear business in the city. The bear was apparently used to put on a show, which is not only against the provisional law but also not allowed in the mini zoo license issued by the department.
Bear baiting was banned in Pakistan in 1980 under the Pakistan Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act. In this cruel practice, illegally poached bears from the wild, with their claws and teeth removed, are made to fight against dogs. Bears suffer from a lifetime of distress and rarely live past the age of eight. They are also used for dancing. Such events are usually organised at village fairs and a great deal of money is involved. The bears belong to the gypsies, while the dogs are owned by powerful landlords who encourage this cruel bloodsport.
Sindh now has four bears in captivity, which Punjab still has 216. The federal government along with provincial authorities is microchipping all captive bears in Punjab to restrict further poaching from the wild. Plans are underway by the authorities to rescue each one of the remaining bears in the next five years to a purpose built sanctuary and provide alternative livelihoods to their owners. It is worth mentioning that the authorities have already cleared Khyber Pukhtunkhwa, and Azad Jammu and Kashmir of any captive bears.
In 2015, new legislation was passed in Sindh which makes it illegal to own a bear and use them for baiting, dancing and begging. Strict punishment and high fines are part of the law. Pakistan is also developing its National Bear Action Plan which should be in place by 2020 for further conservation and management of all bear species in the country.
It is hoped that now Pakistan will also eliminate all kinds of cruelty towards animals.
