Rescuing a ‘Dancing’ Bear in India
We are absolutely delighted to share with you our wonderful news that
The Emerald Heart Tithing Fund has made its very first pledge.
We have made a donation to International Animal Rescue to rescue a
Sloth Bear from the streets of India, where they are made to ‘dance’ for
tourists by their owners, the Kalander Gypsies.
These beautiful creatures lead a tortured and abused life. Initially
stolen as cubs from their mothers in the forests by poachers, who aim
to sell them to the gypsies, the mothers are usually then shot. Their
cub’s teeth are then broken with hammers, causing immeasurable
suffering and a hole is then burnt through the bridge of their nose
or cheek where a rope is secured, which when tugged on makes the bear ‘dance’. In
fact it is the pain caused by this tugging that makes the bear rear
up onto its hind legs.
It goes without saying, we are sure, that to be party to releasing
one of these magnificent creatures from a life of torment and pain
to one of healthy freedom is a truly amazing feeling.
Once the bear is rescued it is taken to one of three safe sanctuaries
funded by the IAR and Wildlife SOS in India to begin its rehabilitation.
Overseen by trained vets and caring keepers the bear is nurtured back
to health while being gradually introduced into more and more spacious
surroundings where there is a wealth of ‘activities’ to
help it revert to its natural characteristics.
Although these bears will never return to the wild, the sanctuaries
are large enough to eventually accommodate up to, or in excess of,
200 bears, roaming freely in this safe and natural environment where
they can interact with their own kind.
Obviously it is not enough just to take the bear off the street without
considering its ongoing care, so we have also pledged to support the
continuing progress of the bear by a monthly contribution to cover
its upkeep. This costs more in the first year, as it includes
veterinary and medical care, including dentistry to fit gold caps on
their smashed teeth where necessary. The costs reduce over coming years
depending upon the bear’s individual needs.
You may wonder why we chose this project as our first venture when
there are so many good causes needing help.
Well, twelve months ago, when we were guided to begin looking into
charity projects, we encountered several problem areas. The
main one being that not many charities could actually guarantee where
our donation was going to and that it would be difficult for them
to provide proof of the progress of a project. Once we had discovered
the problems, then The Guides gave us a criteria for a project to
meet. You can read about this in Application Criteria
International Animal Rescue were the first people we found who could
meet the criteria which The Guides had laid down, working with similar
ethics to our own. Their enthusiasm for their work and their
commitment together with their instantaneous response to our interest
in helping the bears was so infectious it just felt absolutely right,
and a privilege, to work with this dedicated team of people.
Not only are they involved in rescuing the bears (and many other projects
around the world too), but just as important they put funds into re-educating
the Kalander Gypsies to help ensure they can earn a livelihood to support
their families by other means. They work closely with these
communities, together with the government, to highlight the plight
of the bears and the cruelty of the poachers. Through their actions,
this trade is now illegal in India and the Gypsies are keen to hand
over the bears from fear of arrest by police. It is known that the
Gypsies have recently begun to turn down offers of cubs from the poachers.
With no trade, the poachers will soon stop taking the cubs and the
Sloth Bears will be allowed to live in peace in their own natural wild
environment. The IAR feel that the end is now in site of this dreadful
trade and soon the streets will be free from the spectacle of dancing
bears in India.
International Animal Rescue’s multi-faceted visionary way of
working, to get to the root of the problem, is a clear example of how
we want to work with evolutionary concepts. This is why we chose
this charity.
Bears are special to us for many reasons.
They have the ability to open our hearts. Through their sheer magnificence
and their tolerance, they help us feel true compassion for their plight.
Remarkably, once cared for they hold no grudge against people for their
pain. Also, we feel compassion for the Gypsies who have depended on
this cruel practise to earn a living, patterned by their forefathers,
who now show a willingness to change their lifestyle and trust the
offers of help at hand. As we all know change can be frightening, but
they are ready to follow this new path.
Also Dave’s medicine animal is a Brown Bear, and so it seems
fitting to work with his namesake. Bear is a seeker and gatherer of
knowledge. He lives by the Laws of Nature, retreating to his cave to
hibernate in the cold of winter where, in the inner silence, he can
fast and review the past year. This is where the answers to all our
questions and goals are found, the self-knowledge that lies within
us. Introspection allows us to see and perceive the insights we need
to continue our path when the awakening of spring calls.
Bear also is a sign of great strength, something that we all call
on to get us through our difficult times.
As we receive news updates from Tony at IAR on the progress on our
bear we will post it on these pages for you to access.
May we take this opportunity to thank everyone who has contributed
in making this possible. This is the first of many projects we
intend to support, as our legacy to the wonderful gift we have been
granted in The Emerald Heart Light.
For more information of the incredible work carried out by the IAR
on behalf of these bears, together with continually updated video footage
of their progress, visit www.IAR.org.uk.
God Bless.
Denise
