Bears Saved in WSPA Campaign

Posted by nzvs 28-04-2008

Bears rescued from cruel bear baiting contest

Two bears in Pakistan have been saved from multiple violent attacks by powerful dogs after WSPA member society, the Wildlife Society of Pakistan (WSP), prevented a bear baiting event last month.

The bears, who were caught up in the brutal blood sport of bear baiting, were surrendered by their owners before the event and are now living in the WSPA-built Kund Park bear sanctuary.

WSPA and WSP’s local networking programme enabled them to enlist support against the powerful rural landlords who arranged the gruesome event. Landlords stand to make large profits from bets placed on the bloody contests, despite this cruelty being illegal in Pakistan and contrary to religious teachings.

Stopping the fight

WSP, working with Punjab wildlife officials, managed to prevent the baiting taking place with a carefully planned and timed intervention. But when the authorities attempted to confiscate the bears they were prevented from doing so by the influential landlords.

Not to be deterred, WSP contacted a local figure, Saad Ahmad Niazi, who had been recruited through the landlord networking programme, which also involves local religious leaders.

Once an organiser of bear baiting events, Saad now asks others to turn their back on this most savage of blood sports.

The landlords own only the dogs used in baiting events, so Saad appealed directly to the bear owners. He was able to convince them to surrender the bears, and offered to help them find cruelty-free future livelihoods.

The surrender of further animals is currently being negotiated.