Sindh bans bear-baiting

KARACHI:

The prevalence of bear-baiting and the horrible torture that the animal has to suffer has finally compelled the Sindh wildlife department to promulgate the law.

The department issued a notification on Wednesday, imposing a complete ban on illegal practices such as bear-baiting, fighting and forced begging with animals. Anyone found involved in any of these acts will be fined with Rs100,000 or will be placed behind bars for two years.

While the practice of begging with bears is common in different parts of the province, bear-baiting is a favourite in the upper and central parts of Sindh. Most of the people involved in bear-baiting are influential ones. Unfortunately, the bear belongs to a poor person, usually a beggar, and the dogs belong to rich, influential landlords.

During the galas arranged in particular areas, the bear is tied from the nose, with its nails already cut. It is made to fight at least three dogs, who attack its nose during the round. “It is a cruel activity that no sensible person can look at it,” said wildlife secretary Naila Wajid Khan.  “The bear is enlisted in the protected schedule and we’ll confiscate these animals wherever we find them.”

After confiscation, the bear will be kept in the rehabilitation centre for 15 days. The four most commonly found bears include the brown bear, the grizzly, the Asiatic black bear and the Himalayan black bear. Wildlife officials said that Sindh used to be a habitat for these bear species but is not any more. Now these animals are brought for baiting from Peshawar.

The wildlife secretary informed The Express Tribune that her department has also suggested the federal government introduce this law across the country. According to the wildlife conservator, Javed Ahmed Mahar, the price of a bear is about Rs50,000. Influential people take advantage of poverty and hire a bear for the baiting, he said.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 19^th, 2015.