Why This Fascination For BEARS?
It all started when Geeta Seshamani of Friendicose SECA drew my attention to the brutal practice of dancing bears. At the time I was working on a Tiger Ecological Statues Survey project with the New York Zoological Society. I was feeling disillusioned about conservation
Research and science, as I could not see it making the difference that I would like it to have made. Right from the beginning I had an inclination towards animal protection. I could not tolerate this shy and beautiful animals being tortured and brutalised.
TAKE US THROUGH SOME OF YOUR AC COMPLISHMENTS.
This effort started in the year 1995.To day we stand proud – having rescued 392 bears, having provided the kalandar families rehabilitation support and having set up four rescue centers to Accommodate the rescued bears.
The Agra bear rescue facility is today one of the best managed rescue centre in India.
HAVE YOU BEEN A LONE RANGER?
I have tried to do everything could on my own. We have had several people join this movement, some people stay on for a short period, other stay on for longer, some find it hard to hang on as it calls for a lot of sacrifice and give up your personal life for a cause.
WHAT KEEPS YOU GOING?
Through WSOS we have been able to help both, the community and the animals. If each of us does not give back to nature then our lives would strongly resemble that of a rodent- we are born, we consume, reproduce and die! The sight of happy converted Kalandar families, the smile on a Kalandar child’s face when he goes to school, spotting a happy bear on a tree at our Centre,, and the occasional bear hug. All make a difference.
WHAT ABOUT THE ROADBLOCKS?
To start with, even wildlife conservationists and animal welfare people criticised the project saying we were helping people who were breaking the law, but for all of us at Wildlife SOS this was the only practical, sustainable way forward to tackle this complex issue. We are a small nonprofit NGO and have been extremely miserly in spending money on publicity or PR. We spend all the resources generated on the ground on the animals that we rescue, and on the community projects. Despite what we’ve achieved and our track record, many people may not have heard of us. It would be tragic if we can’t continue this work, and we would welcome more support from people and the government.
YOU EARN BEARS THEIR FREEDOM, BUT SNATCH AWAY LIVELIHOODS OF PEOPLE. JUSTIFY.
On the contrary, we help the kalandars establish themselves in a livelihood that is respectable, law abiding and sustainable in the long term.
The only way to permanently solve the ‘dancing bear’ problem is to take care of the people dancing the bears too. We encourage the Kalandar to peacefully surrender the bear since he is already breaking the law and could end up in hail. We provide him financial assistance and train him in the skills needed to set up another means of livelihood, like carpet weaving or tailoring. Many are employed by us at our rescue center across India. We also support their children’s education and healthcare.
DANCING TO HIS MASTER’S TUNE, OR IS THERE MORE TO IT?
Bears aren’t trained to dance at all! The bear-cubs are kidnapped by ruthless bear-cubs often as witnesses. Their teeth are knocked out and claws chopped off. As the cubs scream in pain, a red-hot iron needle is inserted into their delicate muzzle, through which a rope is passed. The wound is kept raw deliberately. Staying infected and often bleeding. When the rope is pulled up the bear finds it unbearable and stands up on the its hind legs. Which people se as ’dancing’.
ANY INTERESTING INSIGHTS INTO BNEARS?
I’ve found that bears are shy creatures. They are mistaken for being vicious and aggressive wild animals, which they are not. Bears will only attack in self-defense when people encroach into their territory or attack their cubs. I have been attacked by a bear in the wild-a shocking experience that taught me the reality of bear attacks. I was doing a line transect in Balle forest in Karnataka, when a sleeping bear charged at me, I froze; my back was against a tree. The bear rose up on two feet, charged and then just as suddenly ran away. It was frightened of my presence.
There’s one bear called Shetty, I’d like to talk about. This bear was surrendered in 2003 by a kalandar. It looked so peaceful, almost saintly, with a mark on his forehead and a white muzzle . to this day, he radiated an aura of peace, love and tranquillity. |