Agra’s bear centre located inside the Soor Sarovar Bird Sanctuary takes care of rescued animals. A report by Deepanwita Gita Niyogi
As the vehicle entered the Soor Sarovar Bird Sanctuary situated in Agra, the Keetham lake, a huge man-made water reservoir, came into view. The sanctuary spread over a total of 403 hectares of land attracts a variety of migratory birds in the winter. The place is home to over 165 species of migratory as well as resident birds. Soor Sarovar was declared a bird sanctuary in 1991.
Inside this serene place, dotted with numerous trees, about six hectares of land is especially dedicated to the rescue and rehabilitation of sloth bears. In 1999, the Uttar Pradesh forest department handed over this particular area to non-profit Wildlife SOS. There are at present close to 90 bears here. The bear facility was the organisation’s maiden project.
At present, the bear facility inside the sanctuary takes care of dancing sloth bears which have been rescued. The animals are housed in enclosures where they receive long-term care and medical treatment. They are not fit for a life in the wild. When they were initially used for street dance performances, many of them suffered mutilation and underwent physical as well as psychological trauma. Some of them have been diagnosed with chronic medical issues like joint pain.
At the bear centre, the rescued animals undergo a 90-day quarantine period. During this period, they undergo health check-up and are treated for injuries, wounds and diseases. The animals are also vaccinated against rabies, leptospirosis and canine hepatitis. After the quarantine is over, the bears are looked after by dedicated caregivers. There is also a bear hospital equipped with a path lab and other essential equipment needed to provide the required care to the bears.
A history of torture
The Agra bear rescue facility is on the highway connecting Mathura in Uttar Pradesh to Delhi. In India, four species of bears are found. Apart from the sloth bear, there are the Asiatic black bear, sun bear and the Himalayan brown bear. Globally, there are eight recognised species of bears.
Sloth bears are found in plain areas and tropical forests, inhabiting mainly lowlands. They have been used by the Kalandar community for entertaining the public for almost 400 years. The community came to India at the time of the Mughals. Initially, the performances were limited to palaces, and later reached the streets for mass entertainment.
According to Harendra Singh, who is the head coordinator for the visitor and volunteer programme at Wildlife SOS, when in confinement, sloth bears undergo harsh treatment at the age of about three to four months. Their teeth and claws are broken and muzzles pierced to pass ropes in order to make them dance. In this way, their muzzles get infected. The community members also castrate the bears and poke them with hot metal rods.
In 1972, India passed the Wildlife Protection Act. With that, bears were entitled to the same amount of protection as tigers as Schedule I animals. In 1999, wildlife SOS spread awareness about the cruel practice of using sloth bears for street dances. The non-profit also sent a report on bear cub smuggling.
“Legal aid, designated land for the bear rescue facility and government involvement were sought so that the police did not think that the traditional livelihood of the Kalandars was being snatched. As sloth bears are easily available, cubs are stolen from the wild. Enforcement of the law wasn’t that good for many years, and thus, the bears continued to be used in street performances,” Singh said.
Along with the rehabilitation of the sloth bears, the marginalised Kalandars were also trained in other vocations. They suffered economic loss when their bears were handed over as part of the rescue and rehabilitation mission.
Care for the bears
Apart from Agra, there are three other centres in India for rescued bears. These are located in Purulia (West Bengal), Bengaluru and Bhopal. When bears are handed over, Rs 50,000 is paid as compensation to a Kalandar community member. Some of the Kalandars have started working with the non-profit whereas others make handicraft items and sell them through shops. This is part of the livelihood shift. Some 11,000 Kalandar children also receive education for a better future.
During the visit, a bear was seen enjoying a siesta outside an enclosure. Bears have jaggery and dates as part of their special enrichment diet here. In the wild, the animals feed on termite and mahua flowers because of their sugary taste. Bears generally rest during the day. Though nocturnal animals, dancing bears are used for performances during the day and are tied up with ropes at night.
Though there are enclosures at the facility, the bears can freely move about. Care is needed as some animals become stressed when they see human beings. Caregivers are there to look after the animals and provide them with food. “Social adjustment is tried with the bears. But some bears want to be alone,” Singh added.
A walkway inside the sanctuary offered the sighting of a spotted deer on the way to the bear facility. In 2013, the forest department opened up the area for public education. Though people can visit other parts of the sanctuary, a visit to the rehab centre needs special permission. Due to space shortage, expansion was needed. Keeping this in mind, the Agra Bear Rescue Facility Extension was set up on an additional 26 hectares. However, this area does not fall under the sanctuary and is in Mathura.
