- The last dancing bears in Nepal have been rescued from their cruel owners in a dramatic night-time raid
- Police tracked the owners’ mobile phones and found two sloth bears in a distressed state in Iharbari village
- The bears – 19-year-old male Rangila and 17-year-old female Sridevi – had been taken from their mothers
- The owners had removed their teeth, pierced their noses with a burning hot rod and shoved a rope through it
The last dancing bears in Nepal have been rescued from their cruel owners in a dramatic night-time raid.
Police tracked the owners’ mobile phones and found two sloth bears in a distressed state in Iharbari, southeastern Nepal.
They showed signs of psychological trauma such as cowering, pacing and paw sucking.
The last dancing bears in Nepal have been rescued from their cruel owners. Pictured: One of the rescued bears
Police tracked the owners’ mobile phones and found two sloth bears in a distressed state in Iharbari, southeastern Nepal. Pictured: The bears being taken for treatment
The bears – 19-year-old male Rangila and 17-year-old female Sridevi – had been taken from their mothers at an early age and forced to perform.
The owners had removed their teeth, pierced their noses with a burning hot rod and shoved a rope through it to control them.
Mohammad Salman and Mohammad Momtaz have been given a ‘stern warning’ by police.
They signed legal documents agreeing that if they’re found with a bear again, the punishment will be much harsher.
The bears were then taken to Amlekhgunj Forest and Wildlife Reserve for treatment.
Police were helped by the Jane Goodall Institute Nepal and the London-based nonprofit World Animal Protection which proudly declared: ‘We just saved Nepal’s last two dancing bears.’
Manoj Gautam of the Jane Goodall Institute of Nepal said: ‘We are thrilled that the last two dancing bears have been rescued from their lifetime of suffering.
The bears showed signs of psychological trauma such as cowering, pacing and paw sucking. Pictured: One of the bears before rescue
The bears – 19-year-old male Rangila and 17-year-old female Sridevi – had been taken from their mothers at an early age and forced to perform
The owners had removed their teeth, pierced their noses with a burning hot rod and shoved a rope through it to control them
Mohammad Salman and Mohammad Momtaz have been given a ‘stern warning’ by police. Pictured: One of the bears before rescue
‘After a year of tracking them, using our own intelligence and in cooperation with local police, our hard effort and dedication has helped to bring an end to this illegal tradition.’
Neil D’Cruze, Wildlife Technical Expert for World Animal Protection said: ‘It’s extremely distressing to see animals being stolen from the wild and the sad reality is there are more wild animals suffering across the world, purely for the entertainment of tourists.
‘I am pleased that for these two sloth bears a happy ending is finally in sight.’
Training bears to dance for a paying audience was popular in the Middle Ages throughout Europe and Asia but is now almost a dead practice.
The cruel owners signed legal documents agreeing that if they’re found with a bear again, the punishment will be much harsher
The bears were then taken to Amlekhgunj Forest and Wildlife Reserve for treatment. Pictured: One of the bears before rescue
Training bears to dance for a paying audience was popular in the Middle Ages throughout Europe and Asia but is now almost a dead practice. Pictured: Iharbari, southeastern Nepal