Bear baiting in Pakistan
Bear baiting is a terribly cruel and inhumane blood sport that - for the most part - still persists in the Punjab and Sindh regions of northern Pakistan
Its a harsh cruel stage of life for a bear to go through and very sad and upsetting. Many bears are mantained for baiting.
They are kept in arenas other known as bear gardens were they will be shackled and chained by there legs in a little fenced in area. Later someone will bring in a small pack of fighting/hunting dogs usually 2-4 dogs. The dogs will be then allowed to attack the bear for a short period of time leaving the bear to fight for his/her life.
Many of the baiting bears suffer bloody gums, cuts, ripped noses and mouths, broken jaws and other injuries. Most of them are permanently scarred. Most of the bears die.
Pakistan now has an estimate of a few hundred bears left.
Its a harsh cruel stage of life for a bear to go through and very sad and upsetting. Many bears are mantained for baiting.
They are kept in arenas other known as bear gardens were they will be shackled and chained by there legs in a little fenced in area. Later someone will bring in a small pack of fighting/hunting dogs usually 2-4 dogs. The dogs will be then allowed to attack the bear for a short period of time leaving the bear to fight for his/her life.
Many of the baiting bears suffer bloody gums, cuts, ripped noses and mouths, broken jaws and other injuries. Most of them are permanently scarred. Most of the bears die.
Pakistan now has an estimate of a few hundred bears left.
Bear baiting was banned in Pakistan by the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act (1890!), yet it still occurs in the Punjab and Sindh provinces of the country
During the event the bear is tethered to a rope 2-5 meters long in the centre of an arena to prevent escape. Bears' canine teeth are often removed and their claws either removed or filed down. Each fight lasts around three minutes. If the dogs pull the bear to the ground they are said to win the fight. Bears usually have to undergo several fights during each day's event.
Bears are illegally sourced by poaching.
Asiatic black bears (moon bears) and brown bears are known to be poached in Pakistan and used in bear baiting. The capture of bear cubs is prohibited across three provinces of Pakistan by: the North West Frontier Province Conservation and Management Act (1975); the Punjab Wildlife Protection, Preservation, Conservation and Management Act (1974); and the Sindh Wildlife Protection Ordinance (1972).
During the event the bear is tethered to a rope 2-5 meters long in the centre of an arena to prevent escape. Bears' canine teeth are often removed and their claws either removed or filed down. Each fight lasts around three minutes. If the dogs pull the bear to the ground they are said to win the fight. Bears usually have to undergo several fights during each day's event.
Bears are illegally sourced by poaching.
Asiatic black bears (moon bears) and brown bears are known to be poached in Pakistan and used in bear baiting. The capture of bear cubs is prohibited across three provinces of Pakistan by: the North West Frontier Province Conservation and Management Act (1975); the Punjab Wildlife Protection, Preservation, Conservation and Management Act (1974); and the Sindh Wildlife Protection Ordinance (1972).
See also the fact sheet about bear baiting in Pakistan
and the map of bear baiting regions in Pakistan
Bear baiting has been illegal in Pakistan for more than 100 years, but WSPA's first investigation, undertaken in 1993, found evidence of 80 different contests involving 300 bears. Pakistan wildlife expert Inayat Chaudry, who undertook the survey, uncovered for the first time a network of hunters, wildlife dealers, gypsy bear owners and land owners which enabled bear baiting to thrive. And he revealed how the bears, whose teeth and claws were removed, were virtually defenceless against an onslaught from as many as eight dogs in one day.
The events are all organised with the full backing of local authorities and dignitaries, largely because the keenest promoters of the fights are rural landlords who wield huge power in Pakistan. They own and train pit bull terriers and gain prestige from having the most ferocious animals. The bears are owned by a gypsy group, known as kalanders, who specialize in training animals. The gypsies are paid by the landlords to bring the bears to the contests. In all, Chaudry identified 2,400 separate fights at the many different contests, all of which took place between December and March.
Is this entertainment?
For the last few years, WSPA has been working tirelessly with their colleagues in Pakistan to stop this despicable cruelty. And for the first time ever, bear baiting is in decline.
But the wealthy landlords who organise these events are powerful, corrupt and difficult to prosecute.