Skip to main content

12 Days of Christmas Appeal

119%
£35687.00 / £30000.00
Frequency
Amount
could go towards easing the pain of their achy joints
could go towards the treatments for their various age related conditions
will help us continue to provide loving care to these abused bears
Amount
will help pay for these bear's specialised diet
could go towards some customised enrichment for our older bears
could help pay for a bears medical needs for 2 months!

Intro

We all need a little extra help as we get older and that’s no different for the ex-dancing bears in India! Many of the bears in our care have been through huge amounts of pain and suffering in their previous lives, inflicting both mental and physical trauma. We can’t heal the past but we can provide them with comfort in their future.

Although the inhumane practice of dancing bears has now been abolished in India, these poor bears can never be released back into the wild, as a result of the torture they received.

One such bear is Chitra. She is among the oldest bears in our sanctuary in southern India and was the 500th dancing bear we rescued. During her years on the streets, all Chitra knew of humans was that they could inflict terrible pain. When she arrived at our centre she was frightened and timid, cowering in fear of a blow to the head or a vicious yank on the rope through her nose. But over the 14 years since her arrival, Chitra has been transformed into a calm, peaceful bear. She knows no one will ever hurt her now. And, with your help, she will never suffer pain or fear again.

Your donations are crucial in providing:

  • 💊 Vital medical treatments to care for a range of conditions, from kidney and liver issues to osteoarthritis.
  • 🛠️ Customized enrichments like low-hanging hammocks for easier accessibility.
  • 🍯 Nutritious, soft diets that cater to their delicate health and aging bodies.
chitra
chitra

Like many of the rescued bears, she has since undergone dental surgery to relieve the agony of abscesses and infection. But the years of brutal treatment and malnutrition have left many of the bears with persistent dental problems, requiring regular treatment from the vet to keep them pain-free. 

As one of the oldest bears in our sanctuaries, Chitra is less mobile and agile than she was in her younger days. The long hours spent standing on her hind legs and being forced to hop from one foot to another as though she was dancing have caused arthritis in her ageing limbs. As well as pain relief and food supplements, in the winter Chitra and her friends are provided with heaters and deep beds of straw in their dens to keep them warm and keep their aches and pains at bay. The enrichment in her enclosure is also customised for the needs of an aging bear, such as the hammocks being lower to the ground so she doesn’t have to jump so high to get in.

Please make a donation today and help care for aging bear like Chitra!