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Rescuing India’s Dancing Bears

Putting an end to centuries of cruelty.

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Project Summary

For centuries, sloth bears in India were torn from the wild and forced to “dance” for entertainment. Mutilated and beaten, they were paraded through the streets in fear and pain.

In 2009, alongside our partners, Wildlife SOS, we made history by ending the brutal practice of dancing bears. We rescued over 600 bears from unspeakable suffering. More than 170 rescued bears are still living in peace and dignity at sanctuaries we support across India.

But our work isn’t over. Bear cubs are still at risk of being poached and sold into cruelty and we won’t stop until every last bear is safe and free.

Local Partner: WILDLIFE SOS

The Full Story

From Suffering to Sanctuary

For generations, sloth bears were exploited as dancing bears across India. Poachers would kill mother bears and steal their cubs, driving red-hot rods through their muzzles and forcing ropes through the wounds. These terrified young bears were then dragged from village to village, “performing” under threat of violence.

In 1972, India made the practice illegal. But the law was rarely enforced, and the cruelty continued for decades.

Making History

In 2009, after years of campaigning, rescue missions, and collaboration with Indian authorities, we finally ended the use of dancing bears in India. Working alongside our partners, Wildlife SOS, and a long-standing coalition, we helped rescue the last remaining bears and brought them to safety.

A Life Worth Living

Today, more than 170 rescued bears are living peacefully in sanctuaries we support in India. These bears, many of them elderly, are finally free from fear and pain. We’ve made a lifelong commitment to their care, and it’s one we will never turn our backs on. They receive:

Expert veterinary care
Nutritious food and enrichment
Spacious, naturalistic enclosures
Daily monitoring by dedicated carers

The Fight Isn’t Over

Though the hideous tradition of ‘dancing’ bears has been consigned to history, the cruelty hasn’t vanished completely.

Bear Cubs Still at Risk: illegal poaching of sloth bear cubs for trade persists in parts of India. Cubs may be sold into entertainment, trafficked across borders, or used in other exploitative practices.
Ongoing Investigations: we continue to fund undercover operations to expose illegal bear trading networks and prevent a return to cruelty.
Legal and Policy Work: we fund work to ensure laws are upheld and offenders are prosecuted.
Community Outreach: our partners engage with local communities to raise awareness, offer alternatives to poaching, and support conservation-led livelihoods.

A Promise We’ll Keep

The rescued bears in our care are safe, but they still depend on us. Many are elderly and suffer long-term effects from past abuse. Your support helps us:

Provide daily food, medication and vet care
Maintain safe, stimulating enclosures
Keep investigation teams in the field
Stop cruelty before it starts

Help Us Keep Bears Safe Forever

We made history by ending the dancing bear trade. Now we need your help to make sure it never returns and that every rescued bear lives out their days in peace.

Give a rescued bear the life they deserve – DONATE NOW

Ending the Dancing Bear Trade

Watch this short film to see how International Animal Rescue and WildlifeSOS ended the cruel trade in dancing bears.

Help Care for Ex Dancing Bears

From Rescue to Lifelong Sanctuary

With your support, we can continue to provide expert care and environmental enrichment for ex-dancing bears, now in sanctuary. And together, we can prevent this barbaric practice from ever happening again.