RESCATE OSO PERESOZO

In a dramatic rescue, a WSPA partner in India has freed a sloth bear cub from captivity as a ‘dancing’ bear.

In a daring undercover operation, our local partner the Wildlife Trust of India (WTI) managed to secure the release of the one year old cub in the state of Jharkand, following a tip-off from locals just days earlier. While the rescued cub is relatively healthy, he has already had his teeth removed and his sensitive muzzle has been pierced with a ring to subdue, control and teach him to ‘dance’.  Unfortunately, the two men attempting to sell the poached cub managed to evade capture, taking a second bear cub with them.

WTI, an Indian NGO funded by WSPA to end bear ‘dancing’ and its associated poaching, received information from an informer that two cubs were for sale in the Jharkand village of Pakhitola.   WTI then worked with its network of informers, usually reformed bear owners, and forestry officials to hatch a daring plan to free the cubs.

With an assumed identity, our informer, who cannot be named for his own safety, arrived in the village to try to locate the cubs. Pakhitola is a large Kalandar settlement of about 45 families and our informer was met with suspicion on arrival. However, since he spoke the Kalandar dialect, the villagers accepted his cover story that he had come from neighbouring Uttar Pradesh to buy bear cubs to train for the cruel practice of ‘dancing’.

mas información......http://www.wspa-international.org/latestnews/2011/bear-cub-bear-dancing-rescue.aspx