IN FOCUS
FRESH STARTS FOR
BAITED BEARS
During 2011 your generosity helped our local partner the Bioresource Research Centre rescue nine bears from the horror of bear baiting and take them to our sanctuary at Balkasar, where they received specialist care and treatment. Sadly, despite our best efforts to save them, two of the bears – Azad and Sawan – died in August from pre-existing health conditions. But the others are thriving, and living lives so very far from their past terrors. Meet the bears whose new starts you have made possible…
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Leela
Bhoori
Kaali
When Leela arrived in January, she was in very poor condition; her coat was patchy and she was suffering from blindness caused by poor nutrition. But now this eight-year-old is like a “new bear”, says Malik Sarwar, Balkasar’s senior sanctuary manager. “Her coat is glossy and she can now see well out of one eye. She is a very busy bear and roams around her enclosure confidently. It is so wonderful to have been able to make such a difference to her quality of life.”
For eight-year-old Bhoori, Balkasar has meant security and kindness, although memories of her traumatic past seem to remain. “She is a beautiful bear, but has the habit of hanging her tongue out of one side of her mouth. We think that this could be because she was always hungry and thirsty – her owners didn’t really understand how much bears need to eat and drink – or it could be a reaction to the stress of being set upon by dogs,” explains Sarwar. When she first arrived Bhoori kept very much to herself, but now socialises, wanders and forages in her large enclosure.
Thanks to you, five-year-old Kaali’s life has also dramatically improved. She was very subdued when she arrived at Balkasar and, as is common with bears used in baiting, her teeth and hind claws had been removed. “In the wild, bears would be climbing trees and foraging for food,” says Sarwar. “But we can’t set bears like Kaali free because they couldn’t feed or defend themselves. But here we can greatly improve their quality of life.” Kaali is now learning to climb trees and is getting on well with some of the other bears, especially Bhoori.