Do you remember a time you burned your fingers on a hotplate? The pain which provokes an instant reaction to pull your hand away? This is what every dancing bear has to endure on a regular basis, with no hope of it ending.

Being forced to stand on scorching metal plates, stepping from one foot to another, until finally trying to escape the painful heat by standing up and moving on the hind legs. This is the fate, Asian black bears Laila and Boogie had to face. But this is not all. They were also used as baiting bears.

During fights, they are tethered to a rope which gives them no room to escape from dogs attacking them. Often their canine teeth are removed or claws filed down to reduce their chance to defend themselves.

Bear dancing and bear baiting is an age-old tradition introduced as a sport. Usually, the bear baiting was arranged by landlords for their personal enjoyment or at a village carnival in remote areas of Punjab. Such practices are embodied in the cultural history of the local people who learnt this sport from the British. 

The great news is that both practices are forbidden in Pakistan and the authorities continue to be committed to enforce the legislation and stop this illegal cruel practice. They have already saved 8 bears and taken them to the Rescue and Rehabilitation Centre in Islamabad. There, they have nature-like enclosures and everything they need to recover from the horrors they had to endure. 

The authorities asked for our support in the confiscation and relocation of further bears – defenceless and with their whole lives ahead of them. On 8 April, the responsible High Court as well as the Senior Minister of Punjab granted permission to rescue and relocate two bears kept in Jauharabad, Punjab, three hours from Islamabad. Both bears were suffering in terrible private keeping conditions and were in worrying physical condition. FOUR PAWS and Islamabad Wildlife Management board (IWMB) travelled to collect the bears and relocate them to the rescue centre, where they will be provided with all needed veterinary care.

Boogie’s story demonstrates the dedicated efforts of the Pakistani government to act against illegal bear baiting. After the initial confiscation of the authorities due to videos on social media showing him in fights, Boogie suddenly disappeared. He was stolen by the bear mafia from the enclosure he was kept in by the authorities. Due to the vigilant efforts of the authorities, they could find him again.