BEAR BAITING A SHAME ON HUMANITY

Bear baiting is perhaps one of the most cruel and barbaric acts of humans which I have seen. According to a fight I had seen on one of the news channel, this illegal act of making bear fight dogs is still going on in Pakistan. In that news report it was told that the bear’s nails are plucked out and their teeth boken by hammer, after which they are helpless and defenceless. They are tied to a pole in the centre of a ground by rope. Then two trained fighter dogs are set free on it. it is really very cruel. I prey to all to raise their voice against this cruelty prevailing in Pakistan.

     A report on this subject is there on the WSPA ( World Society for the protection of Animals ). I will put the story from their website and other sites here:

WSPA :

Bear Baiting

Bear baiting is possibly the world‘s most savage blood sport. Teeth and claws removed, bears are tied to a post and set-upon by pit bull terriers.

WSPA‘s work has helped to reduce the number of bear baiting events held; opposition to the fights is increasing, but there is still much work to be done.

  

Below are some of the cruel facts given on the below mentioned webpage, which I have given below from the site.    

 BEAR BAITING IN PAKISTAN

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0 God, enlarge within us the sense of fellowship, with all living things, our little brothers to whom thou hast given this earth as their home in common with us.
May we realise that they live not for us alone, but for themselves and for Thee, and that they love the sweetness of life even as we, and serve Thee better in their place than we in ours.
First uttered by – St Basil, Bishop of Caesarea, 370 AD

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Where does bear baiting occur in Pakistan? Latest fights occurred in Punjab, Sindh and Baluchistan. These are rural towns in the North of Pakistan.

When did it start?First the Gypsies danced their bears for money. When the British began their rule, they introduced animal baiting as a sport, using Bull Terriers. The sport has escalated since 1940. Bear hunting has also grown as a result of widespread ownership of firearms and was used to develop relationships with the British. FACTIn 1994 Dr Chaudry reported bear baiting occurs in winter months between November – April. What kind of bears are involved?

• Asiatic Brown Bears – found in the West of Indue River to Northern parts of the country. Now reported to be in small isolated groups (1990). A subspecies listed in the Red Darta Book.
• Brown Bear – now uncommon, few found on the North West area near the Chinese border. Remote areas on Deosai Plains, maybe 50 individuals in 1990. In 1996 populations were reported 20Okm from the Deosai River, numbers unknown.

Is it illegal?Yes. Fact It was banned by the Pakistan Legislature under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act (1890).

• Capture of bear cubs is prohibited (1975) – North West Province.
• Capture of bear cubs is prohibited (1974) – Punjab Wildlife Protection.
• Capture of bear cubs is prohibited (1972) – Sindh Wildfife Protection.

Is it against the country’s religion?Yes, Islam forbids inciting animals to fight one another. Who is involved?

• Grazier -migrating, pastoral people who herd their own sheep, goats and cattle. They capture the bear cubs near NWFP, also from Nooristan in Afghanistan.
• Traders – purchase the bears, pierce their muzzles with rings, remove the incisors and canines. Beat the legs of the bears and manipulate the sensitive nose ring – to make the bears dance (some known to dance on hot coals).
• Landowners – powerful land-barons and landlords, prominent businessmen – however some have high ethics and morals and do not get involved. Some are interested in horse and greyhound racing. The less powerful landlord seems more interested. They use their dogs as an affirmation of their status.
• Helpers – servants tenants – care for dogs daily and handle the animals at the events.
• Audiences – youth and older men. Local landlords and police.

FACTIn 1993, prior to an international outcry 80 registered bear baiting events occurred.( ie +- 100 fights) FACT

• Estimated 1992 – 1993 (± 2400 bear fights) took place.
• Estimated 1997 – 1998 (±200 bear fights) took place.
• Estimated 1998 – 1999 (±25 bear fight) took place.

When did WSPA expose it?In 1993, in Pinjals and Sindh. What was the result of the International outcry?December 1993 – Lahore said Government ordered all Provincial Authorities to enforce a ban on bear baiting, to confiscate bears and move them to zoological garidens. FACTBecause it contravened wildlife protection laws and violated Islamic injunctions:
Government of NWFP declared a ban has been imposed. Also they felt it necessary to establish a park, and needed sponsorship from international NGO’s – (None Government Organisations). Result: A few cases brought against offenders. WSPA knows of no confiscation of bears. Who informs WSPA?Dr Inayat Chaudry of “Habitat Integrated Pakistan,” was the foremost authority on the matter. He was committed to conservation of wildbears.He Kept WSPA informed of events.He sadly passed away in 1999. Who is John Joseph?Regional Manager for WSPA in Asia. WSPA – The World Society for Protection of Animals. Who is Jeffrey Changrin? Freelance cameraman who photographed events.
Areas visited – Sargodha and Mianwali districts. When did WSPA go to Pakistan of late?

• 10/02/1997 Arrived. No fights in Sargodba and Mianwali
• 20/02/1997 Found an event at Mithatiwan Village and at Kotla Fateh Knan (same day)
• 22/02/1997 Left Pakistan and filed their report.

How much money does a Kalander earn? ± £12 = 600 rupees = ± R 132.00 for fighting his bear. Bear has to fight 2 – 6 dogs. How much does a bear cost the Kalander to purchase? ± £ 100 = 60 000 rupees = R1 100. Value of the bear to the Kalander? £ 1 600 = 100 000 rupees = R17 600. FACT: Landlords loan the gypsey money to buy a small house which he must pay back. Still he needs money for his family, food for his animals and bear. FACT: One lost bear a year. When a bear dies, he lays the bear’s prostrate at the feet of the landlord to offer pleasure. Results in gifts from the landlord. What type of dogs are involved? Pit Bull Terriers, mixed with a local breed “Kohati” – males are used from the same litter for inbreeding. Value of a dog? £ 1 600 = 100 000 rupees = R17 600.  At what age is a bear forced to fight? Any time from 3 years old upwards. Maybe younger. Most die by age 4 – 7 years. Life expectancy in the wild 20 – 30 years. One owner had 7 bears in 5 years. (± one bear per year). How tall is a bear? 1.4 to 1.7 metres. Weight? ± 120kg for a Asiatic Black Bear. What are the rules of the game?

• Bear tied to central pivot by a rope 2 – 5m long.
• 2 – 6 dogs target head area.
• If the dog can attack head area and pull bear down, forcing bear to roll then the dog wins.
• Bears wins if it can remain on its feet. This is rare.
• Points system on level of submission.Landlord usually wins.
• Bear rises to its hind legs and tries to beat the dogs off.
• Smaller bears tuck their heads under their bodies.

FACT: Sometimes other dogs are set free from members of the audience due to the excitement. FACT: Takes one minute to get the dog’s jaw loose from the bears flesh, by means of a stick. How long is a fight? Depends on how soon the bear surrenders or scores points. Intervals of 2 – 3 minutes between fights. Gypsies douse water onto the wounds but no medical treatment given. Bears usually do not get water during an event. FACT: Bear is made to dance a little jig after it has been beaten by the dogs! Prize money? At some events up to 2 000 rupees. FACT: One bear had his nose almost entirely ripped open. He had to endure another three further attacks after his first fight. One female bear had to endure three attacks until she was exhausted. Why is this continuing to happen?

• Power of the land owner/organisers and patrons.
• Lack of resources and will of local Governments in Punjab and Sindh to stop it.
• Landowners are not religious followers of Islam.

FACT: Landowners have easy access to bears, held by the gypsies and to show of their dogs at any time. FACT: Gypsies also dance their bears at weddings for additional income. FACT:
Gypsies pass the “profession” down from generations to generation. FACT: Most have large families to support, care for their bears and give medical treatment after fights (if the they can afford to do so). What does Habitat Integrated Pakistan plan to do?

• To set up a sanctuary for the confiscated bears – Pakistan Government to oversee it.
• A registration system such as microchip tagging of all bears in captivity.
• No new born bears to be captured and traded.
• Confiscation of any unregistered bears found.
• Update national laws in these regions.
• School children must be educated and public awareness campaign has begun, to teach morals and ethnic arguments against bear baiting. Public poster and school talks have been introduced.

What does the audience think?

• They sit 10 – 15 meters away, so they cannot see the bear clearly.
• Think its harmless.
• Think the animals are not fatally wounded.
• Some think the bear is a demon and should be fought.

What do the rural people need?

• The Government to raise their level of education and standards of living.
• Public awareness campaign aiming to dent the power of these landlords.

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Can’t this cruelty be stopped forever?

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