The unabated poaching of sloth bears in India, fueled by the demand for their body parts used in traditional medicines in some countries, is a major concern for wildlife conservationists and environmentalists. A report by Tehelka SIT.
“In Vietnam, there is a farm named ‘Bear Bile’, where 1,000 bears are kept in small cages, and bile is extracted from their gall bladder. The bile is used to make medicine, with claims that it enhances sexual potency. Wealthy and childless couples pay up to Rs 50,000 for these medicines. This practice is common in both China and Vietnam,” said Baijuraj MV, Director of Conservation Projects at Wildlife SOS.
“Poaching and narcotics have evolved into a huge industry, driven by big money. It includes wildlife trade, the trade in wildlife products — everything is sold in the market for one purpose or another. Recently, illegal wildlife trade from Southeast Asian countries like China and Indonesia to India has increased,” Baijuraj told Tehelka.
“Sloth bear poaching typically occurs in November and December, when female bears give birth to cubs. After the bears emerge from their dens, poachers steal the cubs and kill the mother, trading her body parts and selling the cubs to middlemen,” said Baijuraj.
“The Kalandars, a nomadic tribe involved in bear dancing, used to castrate male bears to reduce their aggression and make them more amenable, allowing them to be used in dancing performances,” said Harendra Singh, Head Coordinator of the Visitor & Volunteer Programme at Wildlife SOS.
“Chinese traders make juice from the paws of sloth bear cubs and use the gall bladders of adult sloth bears to make medicines,” disclosed Harendra.
“Previously, poaching was done through the Kalandars. Poachers would approach them, pay some money, and take the bears. However, the poaching system has evolved. Now, it’s happening through national parks, where sloth bears are found in larger numbers,” added Harendra.
On 4th March 2025, Prime Minister Narendra Modi praised the unique wildlife conservation, rescue, and rehabilitation centre, Vantara, just days after inaugurating the facility established by Reliance Industries Ltd (RIL) and Reliance Foundation in Jamnagar district, Gujarat. This initiative follows a similar one undertaken 30 years ago by Kartick Satyanarayan, who founded the not-for-profit organization, Wildlife SOS, in 1995, together with Geeta Seshamani. Today, Wildlife SOS runs several projects to support bear conservation in India, including the world’s largest rehabilitation centre for sloth bears in Agra.
The Agra Bear Rescue Facility, established by Wildlife SOS in 1999 in collaboration with the Uttar Pradesh Forest Department, currently houses 88 rescued sloth bears. The facility rehabilitates sloth bears that were once enslaved as ‘dancing bears’ or rescued from wildlife traffickers. It also provides alternative livelihood support to tribal families from the Kalandar community, whose centuries-old tradition of ‘dancing bears’—a practice of displaying bears in roadside shows for tourists—was declared illegal under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, with sloth bears receiving the highest level of protection under wildlife laws. In 2009, Wildlife SOS achieved a significant milestone with the rescue of Adit, the last ‘dancing bear’, marking the end of the practice in India.
The sloth bear is listed as ‘vulnerable’ on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List and is protected under Schedule 1 of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972. It is estimated that there are between 6,000 and 11,000 sloth bears in the wild in India. Today, sloth bears are only found in the Indian subcontinent, Nepal, and a subspecies in Sri Lanka. About 90% of the global sloth bear population is found in India. Unfortunately, sloth bears are still poached for their body parts. The rising number of seizures of dancing sloth bears raises alarms about the illegal wildlife trade in India. Despite tough laws and the concerted efforts of the Forest Department and Wildlife SOS, poaching of sloth bears continues.
Sloth bears are poached for their body parts, with their gall bladders in high demand in China and Vietnam, where bile is extracted to make traditional medicines. The paws of bear cubs are also used to make juice. To uncover the realities of poaching, Tehelka travelled to the world’s largest sloth bear rescue centre, located in the Sur Sarovar Bird Sanctuary (also known as Keetham Lake), 17 km west of Agra. At the rescue centre, we met Harendra Pratap Singh, Head Coordinator of the Visitor & Volunteer Programme at Wildlife SOS.
Harendra, who has been with the bear sanctuary for the last 10 years, in the conversation below sheds light on the gruesome practices involved in the illegal trade of sloth bears. He describes how their gall bladders are extracted, and the bile juice is sold for use in Chinese medicines. He also reveals how young bears are targeted and even killed alongside their mothers to prevent interference during illegal poaching.
Reporter- Accha Harendra ji aap illegal trade ke bare mein bata rahe they..sloth bear ka illegal trade kya hai?
Singh- Gall bladder, pitashey nikaltey hain wo…poora gall bladder nikal letey hain uske baad uska jo bile juice hota hai, uska jo juice hota hai wo Chinese medicines mein use hota hai..
Reporter- Uske baad bear alive rehta hai ?
Singh- Kyun rahega.. wo mar jayega..operation karke thodi nikal raha hai. Jo maar raha hai wo nikal raha hai..
Reporter- To wo young bear ke saath bhi karte they.. ya jinka life span khatam hone wala hota hai ?
Singh- Nahi nahi.. young ke saath bhi kartey hain, chotey baccho ko taskari karke.. wo wahan soup banatey hain…ab baccha jab maa ke saath hoga to maa chodegi nahi usko…to is wajah se wo maa ko bhi maarenge.
[This conversation highlights the brutal reality of illegal wildlife trade, showing a complete disregard for life and nature. The hidden nature of these activities stresses the need for stricter enforcement and greater awareness.]
Harendra Singh goes on to explain that while the demand for smuggled wildlife parts originates from China, the network extends far beyond its borders. He highlights the intricate routes, including Nepal, Cambodia, and Vietnam, used to transport illegal goods.
Reporter- Smuggling sirf China mein hoti hai.?
Singh- China se demand hota hai par wo network kaise faila hua hai ke yahan se Nepal jana hai, Nepal se kis route se jayenge Combodia, Vietnam.. jahan se bhi.
[This conversation unveils the vast, trans-national scope of the smuggling networks that fuel illegal wildlife trade. It highlights the global nature of the problem.]
Harendra Singh reveals that the gall bladders extracted from sloth bears were used not only for making soups but also for Chinese medicines, particularly those aimed at treating infertility in women and various other human ailments. The final destination for these illegal products, once again, is China.
Reporter- Final destination China tha unka?
Singh- Demand China se thi.
Reporter- Gall bladder ka use ya to soup ya medicine?
Singh- Soup banatey they paw ka, bhalu ke bacche ke paw ka, gall bladder se wo Chinese medicines banatey they.
Reporter- Wo medicine ka use kya hota tha?
Singh- Different things, mostly women ke liye banatey hain..agar baby nahi ho rahe hain to unke liye alag-alag humans ke liye bhi bana rahe hain, alag alag cheezon k liye.
[This conversation reveals the link between illegal wildlife trade and its use in human health treatments, including fertility. It highlights how consumer demand causes animal suffering, calling for better regulation.]
Harendra nodded in affirmative when asked whether poaching of sloth bears is still on despite several efforts of Uttar Pradesh Forest department and Wildlife SOS? He confirms that the illegal trade continues, with bile extraction still happening, particularly in Vietnam, where bears are confined to farms and subjected to painful procedures. He explains that the bile is collected by feeding the bears in captivity to extract their digestive fluids.
Reporter- Aur ye abhi bhi ho raha hai ?
Singh- Of course aap keh saktey hain..kyunki still “bile farms” chal rahe hain..jo mostly Vietnam mein hain ..sun bears par bhi yahi kartey hain, wahan to proper farms hai.. bhaloon ko pinjrey mein rakha hua hai aur chord lagayi hui hai, ussey bile collect kar rahe hain. Usko hand feeding karayenge aur bile..bile kya hai khana digest karne ke liye wahi to collect kar rahe hain wo .
[This conversation highlights the cruel practice of bear bile extraction, showing that demand remains high despite global awareness. Stronger action is needed to stop these exploitative operations.]
Harendra Singh shares that although the forest department has become more active in tackling illegal bear trade, trafficking still persists. He explains that Agra bear sanctuary since 2009 has not received any sloth bear used for roadside dancing shows by Kalandars, because the practice of using bears for dancing has been largely eradicated. But young bears continue to be rescued from poaching networks. These bears are taken in for lifetime care since they cannot survive if released back into the wild.
Reporter- Waise aapne kafi bears ko rescue kiya hai par abhi bhi trafficking ka tareeka kya hai..?
Singh- Ab to active ho gaya hai forest department.. abhi to itna nahi hota…pehle kya ho raha tha dancing bear tradition tha, isilye poachers ka network tha, but now the government department is active. Abhi 2009 ke baad hamare pass koi bhi dancing bears nahi aaye.. it means koi bhi bhaloo nacheney ke liye use nahi ho rahe. But aisa nahi tha ki 2009 ke baad koi bhaloo nahi aaya ho… we got some bears but not from dancing bear trade, those would be seized by the forest department and those will be given to us for lifetime care because un bacchon ka taskari ho raha tha to unko wo jungle mein dobara nahi chodh saktey, agar adult bear hota to shayad wo jungle mein chodh detey, agar koi 2-3 saal ka bhaloo hai to wo survive kar jayega magar 2-3 months ka hai.. so how they can survive?
[This conversation underscores the government’s escalating response to the sloth bear issue, though challenges remain in halting trafficking, particularly of young bears. It also highlights the critical role of rehabilitation efforts, as these rescued bears cannot be returned to their natural habitats]
Harendra Singh now makes a revelation that that sloth bears are readily available in the wild, easily spotted in places like Ranthambore, Bangalore, and Daroji. When asked about how bears are smuggled from sanctuaries, he states that the poachers always find a way out.
Reporter- Sloth bear directly available hain jungles mein.?
Singh- Jungles mein to available hain hi, uske liye aap kaise na keh saktey hain, aap Ranthambore chale jayiye, Bangalore chale jaiye, Daroji chale jaiye.. mil jayenge.
Reporter- Sanctuaries se kaise bear smuggle ho jaatey hain.?
Singh – India mein sab kuch hota hai.
[The exchange reflects the harsh reality that illegal wildlife trade is happening even in sanctuaries, showing that no region is immune. Worryingly, it underscores the ongoing challenges faced by authorities in protecting wildlife, even in protected areas.]
In this exchange, Harendra Singh explains that kalandar tribeswould castrate the bears, not only to control breeding but to prevent aggression, making the animals easier to manage. When questioned about the long-term effects on the bear population, he dismissively notes that kalandars are least bothered about these issues, as more bears could always be brought in from the wild.
Reporter- Sunney mein aaya tha ki ye jo kalandar they wo inke andkosh nikal letey they?
Singh- Haan wo castration kartey they. Not just to control breeding but also to suppress aggression in them.
Reporter- Ismein kalandar ka kya fayda tha?
Singh-Bhalu aggressive nahi hoga to unke liye threat nahi hoga.
Reporter- Lekin ussey population bhi to nahi badegi
Singh- Population badha kar unko kya karna hai, jungle se aur bhalu le aayenge…they just have to think how to keep a bear under control.
[Harendra Singh reveals the exploitative mindset of those involved in wildlife trafficking, focusing solely on control and profit without any regard for conservation or ethical treatment. It also stresses the need for long-term approach to wildlife protection.]
When Tehelka team visited Agra’s Sloth bear Rehabilitation centre, Baijuraj MV, director conservation projects at Wildlife SOS was not at the rescue centre, he was in Assam. So we decided to talk to him over phone. When asked about the poaching of sloth bear, Baijuraj said that poaching and narcotics in today’s world have become a huge industry. He outlines the poaching process, noting that bears, once captured, are either sold alive for further use or killed for their body parts, including gall bladders for medicinal use.
Baijuraj- Poaching ka purpose is today the poaching or wildlife trade is going hand in hand with narcotics smuggling; it is a big billion industry, and it includes wildlife trade, wild life articles trade, everything is sold in the market for one or the other purpose. Today, the entire scenario is wildlife exotic animal trade, everywhere you get wildlife trade, exotic animals, manhoos ko lekar har cheez aapko India mein kharidne ko milega.Ye itna immense hai trade ki koi imagine hi nahi kar payenge.
Baijuraj (continues)- Thousands of guanas are coming to India as part of wild life trade. It is going on for many years but for some years, it has increased. Abhi bahut zyada increase ho gaya hai wildlife trade. Poaching kya hota hai wo alag alag cheezon k liye hota hai, abhi aapko bear poach kar diya kisi ne… wo kalander ko bechenge ya kisi trade party ko bechenge, wo usko Nepal border par kar denge, China border par kar denge, unko kuch paisa milega, bear survive kar sakta hai to usko bada kar denge,..wild trade k liye use karenge, survive nahi karega to usko body parts k liye use karenge, gall bladder trade or dawai ke liye, every thing is sold in the market today.
[This exchange uncovers the deep-rooted and lucrative nature of the wildlife trade, which is deeply intertwined with illicit markets. It also highlights that that all animals are vulnerable.]
Baijuraj explains how poachers target bear cubs, particularly around November and December when they are born. He describes how poachers wait for the bear to leave its dens. As soon as it leaves, they enter the den and steal the cubs. If by chance the mother bear returns and find her cubs being stolen, they kill the mother bear too keeping in mid their safety and sell her body parts. The cubs are then sold in the market, often for use in the illegal wildlife trade. Though bear poaching has decreased, he mentions that the trade in bear paws for soup continues, especially through routes to China and Indonesia, and highlights the rising trend of using exotic animals, like sun bears, as attractions in restaurants to lure customers.
Reporter- Poaching hoti kaise hai ?
Baijuraj -November- December months mein bhalu baccha deta hai, aur poachers ko ache se pata hota hai kaunse jungle mein bhalu aata hai. Ye kya karta hai jungle mein jata hai aur jaise hi bhalu den se nikalta hai, turant ye log ander gufa mein jakar bache ko lekar aayenge, aur by chance mother aa gaya to inko maarna padta hai mother ko, to mother ko maar diya to uski body parts ko sale kar diya, aur bacchey ko market mein sale karenge.
Baijuraj (continues)- Waise to kum ho gaya bhalu ka trade, Jharkhand aur Rajasthan mein kuch kalander reh gaya, waise kalander mushkil hai milna, isliye ab bear cub ka poaching zyada nahi hota, poach hota hai kyunki wo Indonesia border karke China nikal jayega.. kyunki wo bear paw soup etc ke liye trade karta hai, ab ek hota hai pet trade.. koi bhi apne ghar mein pet paalne k liye taiyar hai, aapko sun bear milega restaurant mein bhi cage mein daal ke, customers ko attract karne k liye.
[The conversation above exposes the tragic reality of bear poaching, focusing on the exploitation of mother bears and their cubs. It also highlights the harmful demand for exotic animals, both for traditional products and recreation.]
Baijuraj now discusses the vast extent of wildlife trafficking, stating that a significant number of tigers and other exotic animals like crocodiles, macaws, kangaroos, and wallabies are smuggled into India, particularly from Southeast Asia, China, and Indonesia. He points out that while these animals are bought by people looking for exotic pets, the poaching network remains active, with poachers receiving only between Rs 5000 and Rs 10,000, a fraction of the profit. The real money, amounting to Rs 5 to 10 lakh, he explains, is made by the middlemen who sell animal parts like tiger skins for huge sums in the market.
Baijuraj-Dekho hamara maximum tiger to China hi gaya hai abhi tak, wo log kuch bhi kha lenge, uska koi limit nahi hai abhi India mein bhi bahut janwar aa rahe hain aap study karoge to hairan ho jayega, itna sara janwar taskari hokar India mein aata hai by trade. Bahut magarmach, makau, kangaroo aata hai, birds aata hai, wallabies ata hai. South East Asian countries se China Indonesia se aata hai. Aur India mein sab log pinjra mein daalne k liye kharid rahe hain exotic animals.
Baijuraj (continues)- Dekho easily to tiger bhi available nahi hai but hamne last year pakda tha Tamil Nadu se, hum aur aapke liye sloth bear dekhne ko bhi nahi milega but poachers k liye sab kuch available hai. Isme maximum poachers jungle mein hi rehne wala hai.. paisa jo kamata hai middle men hai.. wo to poachers ko paise pakdayega bolega ek tiger skin chaiye ya sloth bear chahiye humko.. unko to 5-10 hazar se matlab hai.. wo tiger ka skin de denge aur middle men usko 5-10 lakh mein bechenge market mein. Middle man zyada paisa kamata hai.. ab kisan bhi to zyada nahi kamata.. dukandaar kamata hai!
[This conversation highlights the widespread issue of wildlife trafficking, where exotic animals are part of a large underground market. The roles of poachers and middlemen show how these illegal networks operate.]
Now, Baijuraj explains the cruel process of bile extraction, particularly in Vietnam, where bears are confined to small cages and their bile is collected for use in traditional medicine. He further describes how this bile, sometimes mixed with even pus, is sold with promises of curing various ailments, particularly for people struggling with infertility. He highlights that such products are marketed to wealthy clients in China.
Reporter- Sloth bear ke bladder ka kya use ho raha hai ?
Baijuraj- Vietnam mein “Bear Bile” karke ek farm hai to usme na kam se kam 1000 bhalu pinjra mein rakha hua hai, Usme 3 ft ka pinjra mein bhalu leta hua hai aur uska bile collect ho raha hai. Kabhi kabhi us liquid ke saath pus bhi aata hai wo dawai karke bech deta hai…to aapko hum bolenge aap use kar lo aapke sexual bahut ye ho jayega.. to kya hota hai bada bada log jisko bacha nahi ho raha hai try karenge 50 hazar dekar, ye hai marketing. Ye sab China mein ho raha hai aur ameer log kharidte hain gareeb log ko zarurat nahi hai
[This dialogue starkly exposes the ongoing exploitation of bears for profit, where animal suffering is capitalised upon through deceptive marketing. It illustrates the need for greater awareness and stricter enforcement to halt these inhumane practices.]
Baijuraj describes the role of Wildlife SOS in combating poaching, emphasizing their extensive network of informers across various regions. This network provides crucial information about wildlife crimes, which Wildlife SOS then passes on to the appropriate authorities, such as the Forest Department or the Wildlife Crime Control Bureau. He clarifies that while they play a key role in gathering intelligence, they do not directly engage in enforcement.
Baijuraj-Mujhko 20 yrs hua Wildlife SOS ke saath, in Delhi for 4 yrs, and now settled in Agra for 16 yrs.
Reporter – Wildlife SOS ne poaching mein kitna bada role they have played?
Baijuraj-We have informers’ network , hamara har jagah informer hai.. wo humko khabar deta hai, koi bhi kuch ho raha hai, for all animals.. tiger or else.. any where any thing is happening they will let us know. We are paying them.. unki information se hum wildlife ko aware karta hai, ye sab network ke through pata chalta hai, hum forest department ko inform karta, because we are not law enforcement agency, hum wildlife crime control bureau ya forest department ko bolenge, hum cordinate karte hain hum picture mein nahi aate kahin. I am also a volunteer of wildlife crime control bureau. Hum only information deta hai.
[This discussion highlights the invaluable contribution of Wildlife SOS in the fight against poaching, acting as a crucial intermediary between local informants and law enforcement. It underscores the importance of such networks in tackling wildlife crime effectively.]
Baijuraj goes on to explain that poachers do not hesitate to operate even in national parks and sanctuaries, even though these areas are heavily monitored. He points out that sloth bears, for example, are found beyond national park boundaries, such as in Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh, where poachers still target them. He further explains that poachers are undeterred by the presence of anti-poaching wings in national parks, drawing a parallel with the ongoing rhino poaching in Kaziranga. Despite the efforts of the Forest Department, poaching continues to be a challenge.
Reporter- Kya National park se bhi smuggle hota hai?
Bijuraj- Jugad nahi kar sakte, max to national park aur sanctuary mein hi milta hai aapke aur hamare gaon mein to milega nahin, pakadna to udhar hi hoga abhi Chattisgarh gaya tha.. wahan national park boundary k bahar bhi sloth bear rehta hai …MP mein zyada sloth bear hota hai, to poachers ke liye national park unko koi farq nahi padta.. abhi rhino ki poaching Kaziranga mein hoga na.. uske liye farq nahi hota poachers kahin bhi ja sakte hain. Har national park mein anti-poaching wing hota hai, camps hota hai.. hamara bird sanctuary mein bhi poachers aata tha machli poach karne ke liye, forest department kitna poachers ko pakadta hai.. har time jail bhejta hai.
[This conversation shows how poaching continues even in protected areas. It underscores the limitations of current conservation efforts and highlights the need for stronger enforcement to combat wildlife crime.]
Wildlife SOS is currently running four sloth bear rescue facilities in Bangalore (Karnataka), Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh), Purulia (West Bengal), and Agra (Uttar Pradesh), with Agra being the largest sloth bear rescue centre in the world.
According to Baijuraj, when the Agra Bear Rescue Centre opened in 1999, there were 270 sloth bears at the facility. Today, there are only 88, with most of the bears succumbing to tuberculosis, a disease they contracted from the “madaris” who used to force them to dance for tourists before the practice was banned. Baijuraj explains that the Agra centre is not a breeding ground for the bears. The madaris had used brutal methods, including castrating the bears by crushing their testicles, to tame their aggression during the mating period, ensuring the bears would remain docile for the dance performances.
Although the tradition of dancing bears has mostly vanished in India, poaching remains a major issue. Sloth bears are still being hunted for their gall bladders and paws, which are in demand for traditional medicines in China and Vietnam. This illegal trade is putting even more pressure on an already vulnerable species, stressing the need for better protection and stricter enforcement against poaching.
