'Malnourished Chitra was forced to entertain tourists, now she is transformed'

07 January 2024 , 19:14

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Chitra lived a miserable life before she was saved by International Animal Rescue (Image: DAILY MIRROR)

Chitra was a victim of the cruel “dancing” bear tradition – torn from her mother at a young age.

Restrained by a cruel rope, which is pierced through her muzzle, and kept alone in a cage, her only escape came when she was forced to ­entertain tourists on the streets in South India. Daily beatings were also part of this depressing life –knocking out her canine teeth leaving gaping, infected ­cavities in her gums. Made to starve for months at a stretch, she had lost all hope.

Then 14 years ago, the malnourished sloth bear was rescued by International Animal Rescue. But as a result of her time on the streets she was distrusting of humans, frightened and timid. She cowered in fear of a blow to the head or a vicious yank on the rope in her nose. The physical torture and mental trauma endured during her early years meant it was not possible for her to return to the wild. For weeks she would aggressively sway her head for hours in distress – haunted by her past life.

But thanks to time spent in retirement at the Bannerghatta Bear Rescue Centre in Karnataka, Chitra, aged around 20, has been transformed into a peaceful bear. Medical check-ups and a specialised diet mean she is now among the oldest bears there, and the 500th rescued by IAR.

Days are now spent resting in freshly dug mud pits or hammocks to bask under the warm winter sun. Years of brutal treatment and malnutrition have left her and many other bears with dental problems, requiring regular treatment from the vet to keep them pain-free. The long hours spent standing on her hind legs and being forced to hop from one foot to another have caused arthritis in her ageing limbs.

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Native to the Indian subcontinent, even though sloth bears are legally protected, numbers are dwindling with only around six-11,000 in the wild. They are on a red list of vulnerable species. These remarkable creatures are also threatened by deforestation or can find themselves trapped in snares or barbed wire fences or targeted by crude bombs.

Gavin Bruce, CEO at IAR, said: “The wild sloth bear population in India reminds us of the critical work ahead for conservation. The risk of extinction faced underscores the need for protection. Co-existence is imperative, and raising awareness is a shared responsibility.”

Nada Farhoud