Pakistan Animal Welfare Society » WSPA

Bear Baiting in Pakistan

MO — Thu, 31 May 2007 11:25:51 +0000

Bear Baiting in Islamabad Suburb

MO — Wed, 08 Feb 2006 18:18:49 +0000

The World Society for the Protection of Animals (WSPA), the world’s largest federation of animal welfare societies, has detected bear baiting activity in Islamabad. Unlike the large-scale bear-baiting events organised illegally in rural Pakistan, this event involved only one bear at the Islamabad bus stand.

The young Asiatic black bear, tethered by a rope through its nose, was set upon by two ferocious dogs in the back streets of Islamabad. This cruel spectacle was witnessed by several onlookers who appeared to rejoice in the bear’s attempts to fight off the attacking dogs. All information has been passed on to relevant authorities for a full investigation. It is hoped the Kalandar owner will be apprehended and his bear confiscated.

Fakhar Abbas, WSPA’s Pakistan Representative, said, “It is disturbing that bear baiting occurs within Islamabad, as previously it was thought to have been localized to rural areas only. We urge the authorities in Islamabad to investigate this incident fully as firm and appropriate action must be taken against the Kalandars involved.”

In 2001, President Musharraf issued a Decree calling for the enforcement of the existing ban on bear baiting, reinforcing Pakistan’s Prevention of Cruelty Act (1890). President Musharraf also directed that confiscated bears be moved to a WSPA built sanctuary in Kund Park, North West Frontier Province, Pakistan, which was handed over to the authorities in 2002. Pakistan’s National Council for the Conservation of Wildlife (NCWW) has endorsed this decision in subsequent years and the sanctuary is now home to seven rescued bears.

Anyone with information on bear-baiting activity in Islamabad should contact WSPA representative at 03009552253.

Courtesy: WSPA

Take a look at more bear baiting photos here

Confiscation of ‘fighting bear’ in Pakistan

MO — Mon, 28 Nov 2005 01:05:04 +0000

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Wildlife officials staged a daring raid on an illegal bear baiting event at (Mela Saeidi mosaani vilage NAWAN KOT taluqa MEHAR disst DADU) last weekend (8th November 2005), during the Eid religious festival. This followed a tip-off to the authorities from WSPA investigators.

Although a number of bear owners managed to flee with their animals, officials succeeded in finding a young female bear that had been hidden away in a shed by her owner. ‘Iris’, a seven year old Asiatic black bear, was taken to Hyderabad where officials resisted severe threats and pressure from the organisers of the event and ordered that she be sent to the safety of a WSPA-built bear sanctuary in Kund Park, North West Frontier Province.

Sanctuary

Iris is now in the care of staff at the sanctuary, her days as a ‘fighting bear’ over for good. She arrived there (2 A.M 9 November 9, 2005) and will be released into a quarantine enclosure (after intial medicale treatment and removal of metallic ring from its muzzle) before being gradually introduced to the other bears who live there.

Iris is the second bear to have been confiscated from an illegal bear baiting event in the past few weeks and joins ‘Lucky’, a male Himalayan brown bear who was rescued last month.

Events stopped

Repeated reports by WSPA investigators have succeeded in (12 even reported by WSPA field staff and 9 were stopped and at tow sites confiscations were made during October November 2005several bear baiting events being stopped from taking place by the authorities. However, illegal bear baiting continues to be a problem and WSPA is working with the government of Pakistan to stamp out the bloodsport once and for all.

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Removal of the nose-ring

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Source: WSPA

Bear relocated to sanctuary in Kund

MO — Tue, 11 Oct 2005 07:15:34 +0000

!http://static.flickr.com/33/51321338_68e6e5a8d4_m.jpg! The bear has been re-located to WSPA’s bear sanctuary in Kund, NWFP. He has been named Lucky. Other bears are not so lucky. Bear baiting continues unpunished in Pakistan. For information on this cruel blood sport and how you can help bring an end to it, visit WSPA’s website

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After arrival at the sanctuary the nose-ring was removed immediately.

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Wounds in the neck were treated for maggots.

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The bear enjoys new found freedom. He has extensive scarring on his muzzle from years of bear baiting fights.

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WSPA staff look on as the bear explores his surroundings.

Photo Credit: World Society for the Protection of Animals (WSPA)

Bear Rescue in Sindh

MO — Sat, 01 Oct 2005 06:00:49 +0000

A bear was confiscated by Sindh Wildlife officials from an illegal bear baiting event in Mela Makhun, Sindh on September 29th, 2005 after a tip-off from undercover WSPA investigators. The 11 year old Himalayan brown bear was brought to the Wildlife office in Hyderabad from where it was being relocated to WSPA’s bear sanctuary in Kund, NWFP. Although bear baiting is illegal in Pakistan, numerous such events continue to take place between October and April. This is the first bear to have been confiscated by the authorities in the last year.