India: Bannerghatta

At the end of 2005 International Animal Rescue was given the go-ahead to set up a second sanctuary for dancing bears in India within the beautiful Bannerghatta Safari Park outside Bangalore.

The nature reserve is home to antelope, elephants, tigers, crocodiles and a variety of wild birds, and at the centre of the forest is a 37 acre area set aside for bears. Twenty-six bears were being kept in the park where they were living in appalling conditions. They were suffering terribly from their long imprisonment and showing signs of psychological and physical trauma. One bear was repeatedly beating his head against the wall, another was in such a distressed state that he had viciously attacked another bear and had since been left uncared for, apart from rare occasions when food was thrown in to him.

The Indian Conservator of Forests was extremely concerned when he learned of the obvious neglect of the bears. He contacted Wildlife SOS for advice and they in turn called on IAR for help. Alan Knight flew out to Bangalore in November to assess the situation.

Once the Conservator of Forests had visited the Agra bear sanctuary he knew International Animal Rescue and Wildlife SOS could be trusted to look after the bears in Bannerghatta. The two charities were given the go ahead to care for them and give them their freedom, and also to transform their prison into a brand new sanctuary for other rescued bears in the south of India.

This was a major breakthrough in the campaign to free bears in India. It spelled an end to the misery of the 26 bears and also provided the foundations for the sanctuary in southern India that we’ve been looking for. In time it will be turned into a proper home for as many as 200 bears that are still being forced to dance for tourists in the south.

Once the go-ahead had been given, a vet and handler from the Agra sanctuary travelled to Bangalore to attend to the bears. Soon even the most traumatised were venturing outside into the daylight and learning to live as bears again. We are confident that with the right care and attention and a healthy diet even the most distressed bears can be rehabilitated.

> Dancing Bears: Learn more about the dancing bears of India

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