The Hindu : New Delhi News : Saying a firm no to bear dancing

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Feb 15, 2007
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New Delhi

New Delhi

Saying a firm no to bear dancing

Bindu Shajan Perappadan

New campaign against cruel "entertainment"

RESCUED: Seizure of bear cubs in Fatehpur, Uttar Pradesh, on Monday.

NEW DELHI: Making saving the "dancing bear'' or sloth bear a community responsibility, 28 hotels and 15 travel tour operators and bookstores in the Capital have joined the "Say No To Bear Dancing'' campaign initiated by Wildlife Trust of India (WTI) along with the World Society for Protection of Animals.

Aimed specifically at engaging domestic and international tourists who form the bulk of the customer base for this cruel "entertainment", bookmarks and literature will be placed in hotels' guest rooms, lobbies and reception to attract the attention of visitors.

Sloth bear -- used by the "kalandars'' to perform on the streets -- are protected under Schedule 1 of the Wildlife (Protection) Act 1972. They are captured from the wild at a young age and trained to dance. Their sensitive muzzle is mutilated to insert a thick rope by which the "kalandars'' force the bear to perform.

Hotels including Claridges and The Ashok, tour operators Cox and Kings, SITA, Le Passage to India, Travel Inn, India Safari and Asian Adventures have joined hands and are carrying the educational material in their coaches and taxis.

WTI Director (Marketing) Mandeepa Ahluwalia says: "The campaign is part of the `Integrated Sloth Bear Conservation and Welfare Project' and we have completed phase 1. We have moved to Agra after having spread our network in Delhi in the past couple of months. October to March is the peak tourist season in the Capital and we hope we have dissuaded some tourists from encouraging the business.''

"Under the project, we have targeted the Delhi-Jaipur-Agra route, which is where this business thrives. Seven billboards have been placed at prominent locations along these routes where tourists can read the message. Some popular travel and business magazines have published complimentary advertisements for public awareness as part of their contribution to the campaign. Both five-star and budget hotels in Delhi are being targeted under the programme,'' she added.

In the Capital, posters are up at important tourist hubs including Paharganj, Janpath, Dilli Haat and Karol Bagh. Bookmarks and literature are also placed in bookstores such as Bookworm, Galgotias and Teksons in Connaught Place and Oxford in South Extension.

Foreign tourists are encouraged to sign pledges in support of the "Say No To Bear Dancing'' campaign at some important tourist places in the city including India Gate, Red Fort, Dilli Haat, Connaught Place, Qutab Minar and Lotus Temple.

According to a WTI official, the programme will be extended to other parts of the country and long-term rehabilitation of the bear and the owner is also being looked into. "While rehabilitation centres are being set up for the bears that can now no longer survive in the wild, the owners are being encouraged and helped to be gainfully employed,'' says WTI programme officer Sanjeeb Baruah.

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