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Rescuing India's Dancing Bears

Ending the Cruelty
Vulnerable
India
Frequency
Amount
Amount

Project Summary

For centuries, sloth bears in India were torn from the wild and forced to “dance” for entertainment. Mutilated and beaten, they were paraded through the streets in fear and pain.  

In 2009, alongside our partners, Wildlife SOS, we made history by ending the brutal practice of dancing bears. We rescued over 600 bears from unspeakable suffering. More than 170 rescued bears are still living in peace and dignity at sanctuaries we support across India. 

But our work isn’t over. Bear cubs are still at risk of being poached and sold into cruelty and we won’t stop until every last bear is safe and free. 

Local Partner: Wildlife SOS 

India

Project Aims and Impact: 

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From Suffering to Sanctuary

For generations, sloth bears were exploited as dancing bears across India. Poachers would kill mother bears and steal their cubs, driving red-hot rods through their muzzles and forcing ropes through the wounds. These terrified young bears were then dragged from village to village, “performing” under threat of violence. 

In 1972, India made the practice illegal. But the law was rarely enforced, and the cruelty continued for decades.

Making History 

In 2009, after years of campaigning, rescue missions, and collaboration with Indian authorities, we finally ended the use of dancing bears in India. Working alongside our partners, Wildlife SOS and a long-standing coalition, we helped rescue the last remaining bears and brought them to safety. 

A Life Worth Living 

Today, more than 170 rescued bears are living peacefully in sanctuaries we support in India. They receive: 

  • Expert veterinary care 
  • Nutritious food and enrichment 
  • Spacious, naturalistic enclosures 
  • Daily monitoring by dedicated carers 

These bears, many of them elderly, are finally free from fear and pain. We’ve made a lifelong commitment to their care, and it’s one we will never turn our backs on. 

bear and kalandar
big bear challenge

The Fight Isn't Over

Though the hideous tradition of ‘dancing’ bears has been consigned to history, the cruelty hasn’t vanished completely. 

  • Bear Cubs Still at Risk:illegal poaching of sloth bear cubs for trade persists in parts of India. Cubs may be sold into entertainment, trafficked across borders, or used in other exploitative practices. 
  • Ongoing Investigations: we continue to fund undercover operations to expose illegal bear trading networks and prevent a return to cruelty. 
  • Legal and Policy Work: se fund work to ensure laws are upheld and offenders are prosecuted. 
  • Community Outreach: our partners engage with local communities to raise awareness, offer alternatives to poaching, and support conservation-led livelihoods. 
Kartick's Plea: The Urgent Need to Support Elderly Sloth Bears
sloth bear

A Promise We’ll Keep 

The rescued bears in our care are safe, but they still depend on us. Many are elderly and suffer long-term effects from past abuse. Your support helps us: 

  • Provide daily food, medication and vet care 
  • Maintain safe, stimulating enclosures 
  • Keep investigation teams in the field 
  • Stop cruelty before it starts