3,000 families benefited from the initiatives by Wildlife SOS, over 7,600 children access education and 628 bears have been rescued from dancing bears

 This is the incredable story of 2 people that ended the horrific cruel practice of  dancing bears in India and started Wildlife SOS 

1995, Geeta Seshamani witnessed a sloth bear bobbing up and down in the middle of the Delhi-Agra highway. “The poor bear was being dragged along by a coarse rope that was threaded through his bleeding and infected muzzle while his ‘owner’ begged money off the tourists,” she says, with anguish in her voice.

Geeta Seshamani  in 2025  (I am so proud of you ) !!The horrific practice of the Dancing Bear—as it was referred to since the bear jumped up and down in pain when their handlers (from the Kalandar community) tugged at the rope—struck a nerve with Geeta. It involved piercing a hot iron rod into the soft muzzle of the bear cub, after which a rope is threaded through it, which is then used to make the bear ‘dance’.

A dancing sloth bear with a pierced and tied up muzzle.

The dancing bear act began around 400 years ago when a nomadic community entered India from Persia and performed tricks to entertain Mughal emperors. Over the centuries, the emperors and kingdoms disappeared, but the ‘dancing’ bear trade remained. This transitioned to cheap street entertainment for tourists. While the practice was made illegal in India in 1972, underground trafficking of the bears still took place.

“I realised this was not just entertainment for tourists but torture and abuse of an endangered wild animal that was being exploited for human greed,” says the co-author of ‘Dancing Bears of India’ and ‘Trade in Bears and Their Parts in India: Threats to Conservation of Bears’.

Since then, Geeta, her old friend Kartick Satyanarayan, and their team at Wildlife SOS have rescued 628 bears. They have rehabilitated the bears and helped provide alternative livelihood options to the Kalandar community — who traditionally captured the bears.

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A Kalandar man with his dancing bear entertains a crowd.

The child of a military father, Geeta travelled to many places while growing up. She completed her education at Delhi University and said that she has always been compassionate about animals.

“What I recall as a ‘life-changing incident’ was when I was 20 and saw a dog in pain, after having met with a road accident. The accident had happened right in front of my eyes, and the human responsible had not bothered to glance back. I immediately leapt out of the car, picked the dog up, and took it to the side of the road. Unfortunately, the injuries were fatal, and the dog passed away on my lap,” the 70-year-old laments.

This incident compelled her to become a voice for the voiceless and create an institution that would help such animals in distress. “In 1979, I met a group of school children who were part of a ‘kindness club’ led by Anuradha Modi. Friendicoes SECA (Society for the Eradication of Cruelty to Animals) is one of the oldest animal shelters in Delhi-NCR,” says Geeta who is now the Vice President of the organisation.

Later, in 1995, she and Kartick established Wildlife SOS that runs several projects to support wildlife conservation in India.

In an earlier interview with The Better India, Kartick also admitted to finding his calling early on when he saw large-scale poaching of wildlife and habitat destruction was doing irreversible damage to ecosystems.

After witnessing the bear in 1995, Geeta went with a filmmaker to a village of the Kalandar community, just 30 km outside Delhi, to find a horrifying reality.

“The bears were tied to sticks and Tikar ka ped. They were lying in dirty conditions with swarms of flies around them. And that night that I stayed with them was a life-changing experience. I saw the poverty of the people. The children were pot-bellied. Every household had only five or six vessels and two sets of clothes - if they were lucky. They had bears, owls and monkeys, who were in such bad shape. I was taken aback that so close to Delhi, where we are steeped in privilege, lies this village in abject poverty,” she says.

Kalandars bringing the last dancing bears into BBRC.

Geeta and Kartick eventually investigated the illegal practice of dancing sloth bears from 1995 to 1997. They stayed in over 60 villages across five states — Bihar, Odisha, Karnataka, Haryana and Rajasthan.

“We realised right at the very beginning that if we wanted to help implement India’s wildlife laws to eradicate the illegal and brutal practice of dancing bears, we had to work with the nomadic community that depended on the bears for a livelihood,” says Delhi-based Geeta.

Geeta adds, “Kartick and I travelled for months to remote parts of India, stayed in tents and on railway platforms to gather intelligence. The dancing bear practice was being handed down from generation to generation, thereby preventing youngsters from accessing education. We wanted to ensure a bright future for younger generations while ensuring sustainable protection of the bears.”

The duo’s report was published in 1997 and submitted to the government of India, which got them their support and cooperation. It also helped them establish the world’s largest rehabilitation centre for sloth bears in Agra in 2002.

“The first of the bears started coming in on Christmas Eve in 2002. That was a beautiful blessing. Interestingly enough, our last bear also came in on Christmas Eve in 2009,” Geeta says.

Geeta Seshamani feeding a rescued elephant.

In 2009, the final curtain was drawn on the centuries-old practice in the country, and Wildlife SOS successfully rescued and rehabilitated 628 sloth bears from this cruel industry.

However, a lot of the bears were already infected with tuberculosis. “The Kalandars had tuberculosis, and hepatitis was endemic in the community, and the bears would live with them in their huts. About 50% of the bears were lost due to these diseases. But today, all of the bears in our enclosures are almost 20 years old, with a few turning 30 and 32,” says Geeta, who continues her work to resolve man-animal conflicts.

Helping The Kalandars

To protect the indigenous sloth bear population, efforts had to be made at different tiers. An alternate means of livelihood confirmed uprooting the practice effectively.

At first, the Kalandar community felt threatened by the Wildlife SOS team, who they thought were attempting to take away their only means of survival.

Rose (L) & Elvis (R) play in the sanctuary.

“In the beginning, they couldn’t understand why we wanted to help them, and it took us many years to earn their trust. Whatever little Kartick and my salaries permitted, we used to take small things like helping them with rice or atta. If a village needed water or a tubewell, we’d help them with that. We even helped them make ad hoc temporary toilets, which were essential for the women. Over time they realised that we wanted to help provide a more sustainable solution for their families,” she says, adding that funding from donors and international organisations came only after 2002.

Slowly, the community began to adopt alternate methods of livelihood.

“There was a very old man who took the funds to buy himself a Genset which he would lease out at weddings or events. Highway stalls of boiled eggs and omelette stations and other food items, juice stalls, fruit and vegetable carts were set up. The women were empowered with many skills, seed funds for their small businesses like sewing, block printing. They always did better than the men in accepting this change and turning their investments into profits,” says Geeta, who also helped set up a driving school for the youngsters who learnt how to drive auto-rickshaws.

Along with providing alternative livelihoods for the community, Wildlife SOS has designed and carried out several initiatives to empower the women of the community in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh.

Geeta adds, “We wanted to wean them off child marriage practices. We asked them how much they spent on marriages, and it was maybe Rs 6,000 to 8,000 at the time. We then assured them that we would pay for the girl’s lehenga and kitchen vessels only if they waited till their daughters were 18 before marrying them off. They agreed.”

Even today, the organisation has to approve 100-200 seed funds and marriage funds every year.

Geeta with a rescued donkey at Friendicoes.

Banks were another foreign concept for the community, which had a low ratio of students completing their education. “In many villages, if the child has cleared his class 8, they can avail of loans from the block officer. So we put them in touch with the authorities, which made them more willing to study. We even pay for everything from the satchel to the sweater to their pens, books and fees on the condition that they educate the girl child too,” says Geeta.

Over 3,000 families have benefited from the initiatives by Wildlife SOS, and over 7,600 children access education which helped change the future for the community.

The Return of Elvis

Wildlife SOS rehabilitated all 628 sloth bears in four large natural sanctuaries across India. Wildlife SOS operates these centres in collaboration with the State Forest Department. They were also able to stop the poaching of the bear cubs from the forests successfully.

But even today, there is a community across the border in Nepal that still indulges in the dancing bear practice. During some festivals, they cross the border and come into some states.

In 2015, the Wildlife SOS anti-poaching unit, ‘Forest Watch’, gathered intelligence about a gang of poachers who had a bear cub in a remote village on the Indo-Nepal border area.

Elvis at the Agra Bear Rescue Center shortly after his rescue.

“We liaised with the Forest Department and local police to launch a joint operation to rescue the cub, who was later named Elvis,” says Geeta, who adds that the King of Rock and Roll was her ‘heartthrob’ growing up.

Elvis was poached from the wild as a cub of barely 6-8 weeks old and was in the process of being smuggled across the international border. His delicate muzzle was already pierced with a red hot iron poker.

“Unfortunately, the poachers had already received word of the raid and had fled the scene before the Forest Department and our team could intercept them. We found Elvis chained to a tree, whimpering softly and scared of being left alone in a half-starved condition,” she says, adding, “Elvis has been hand-reared by our staff and caregivers since then. We can’t release him back into the wild. As he was snatched away from his mother at such a young age, he never had the chance to learn the basic skills of surviving in the wild.”

“Today, it fills my heart with joy to see Elvis, who is almost five years old, living a healthy and safe life in the company of other bears at the Agra Bear Rescue Facility,” says Geeta.

Elvis all grown up.

The septuagenarian describes her journey as a ‘roller coaster ride’ and is still not ready to throw in the towel when it comes to conservation. “I am aware that there is still plenty more to come, and I feel incredibly fortunate to have experienced so much, connected with so many lives and been able to make a difference, no matter how small it may seem,” she signs off.

(Edited by Vinayak Hegde)

Chapeau Wildlife SOS India: De laatse Dancing Bear( dansende beren) zijn allemaal bevrijd: een klein overzicht van hoe dit vreselijke dierenleed in India is uitgeroeid

 

During a rescue operation conducted in 2008 by Wildlife SOS and the West Bengal Forest Department, as many as 30 sloth bears were saved from the ‘dancing’ bear practice. Among the lot was a six-year-old bear that also bore a gaping hole in his muzzle. The cruel piercing was made with a hot iron rod, through which a rope was passed and then tugged, making the bear move in agony. Further examinations also revealed that this bear, who was later named Roshan, had a deteriorating eye condition. 

Thousands of sloth bear cubs were poached mercilessly across India and the mother bears brutally killed so poachers could meet the demands created by the Kalandar community to replace the dancing bears that died or were sold off each year. To start with, a red hot iron poker would be hammered through the baby bear’s delicate muzzle, often at the tender age of 6 to 8 weeks. 

A rough, thick rope would then be thrust through the oozing wound to control the bear. Then tugging of the rope through this painful wound would create a great deal of pain and would soon force the traumatised bear to cooperate and jump thereby inducing ‘dancing’ performances on demand! These bears lived at the end of a four foot long rope performing on streets for the public.

Roshan” is a word used to describe a bright, illuminating presence. After a dark past, dear Roshan was led on a path lit with love and care, where he truly reflected the meaning of his name. Today, performing as a ‘dancing’ bear has become a chapter of his life that had finally ended 16 years ago. Roshan arrived at the Agra Bear Rescue Facility (ABRF) as an undernourished bear, but his young age revived his youthful spirit as he healed. 

The 22-year-old bear has now entered the geriatric phase of his life, but continues to put a smile on the caregivers’ faces with his unique and fun antics. Age, and the inadequate nutrition that he received in his formative years, unfortunately led to a decline in his vision, leaving him partially blind in both his eyes. Roshan, however, does not consider this his weakness, and can be seen tactfully using his sense of smell and touch to engage with enrichments that have been tailored to suit him best. 

[Photo (c) Wildlife SOS/ Atharva Anil Pacharne] 

The dedicated team of caregivers and the expert veterinarians at Wildlife SOS provide special care for visually impaired sloth bears. One of the key ways of making Roshan feel comfortable is by not relocating him from his current enclosure so that he can find his way around in the familiar surroundings. Roshan, like other bears that are unable to use their sense of sight well, has an enclosure that is relatively smaller in size so that it is easier for him to map his surroundings. 

In Roshan’s socialisation area, stones and logs that can hinder his movement have been removed, and the elevated structures have also been dismantled. Caregivers also pay attention to the surface Roshan walks on, ensuring that it is clean and free of mud pits. Wooden platforms in his enclosure are placed either on the ground or just one feet above it to help Roshan mount them smoothly. Roshan can also be seen spending most of his time resting on his hammock, which is installed at a lower height for him to conveniently access it. 

[Photo (c) Wildlife SOS/ Atharva Anil Pacharne] 

Enrichments for Roshan are designed keeping his age and vision in mind and hence, olfactory enrichments play a larger role in his daily routine. Roshan, like many of our resident bears, has a strong liking for two lip smacking delights, which is why his bamboo feeders and feeder ball enrichments are covered with honey and peanut butter! Our photographers and caregivers have seen Roshan lifting his nose up to sniff the scents of these spreads that fill the air before he begins his search for them. 

[Photo (c) Wildlife SOS/ Atharva Anil Pacharne] 

Keeping the changing seasons in mind, our dedicated staff has suitable protocols that they follow for the sloth bears for their health and upkeep. During the summer months, delectable ice popsicles are prepared for the bears to find a cool respite from the daily heat. Though Roshan prefers to spend the majority of a hot day resting in his den, he would rush out to grab hold of this frozen mix of grapes, watermelons and honey! Roshan diligently eats his porridge meal that is given twice a day, and enjoys the various treats he is provided with through the day. These include dates, jaggery, coconuts, mangoes, watermelons and jaggery rice-puff balls. 

[Photo (c) Wildlife SOS/ Shresatha Pachori] 

Roshan, being a geriatric bear, is not as energetic as he used to be. To help our geriatric bears remain physically active, target training sessions are conducted regularly. These sessions involve patience and cooperation by both the sloth bears as well as the caregivers. Roshan is a very responsive bear, and tempting treats rewarded to him act as incentives throughout the process. Currently, Roshan is not undergoing any specific medical treatment, however all the resident sloth bears at our centres are provided with multivitamins and supplements to improve kidney and liver function. For senior bears, these prescribed supplements are given once every 45 days. Roshan is now also receiving joint supplements to improve his bone mobility. 

[Photo (c) Wildlife SOS/ Atharva Anil Pacharne] 

Wildlife SOS works hard to ensure that all our resident sloth bears receive the care they need and hence, we take apt measures to provide them with utmost comfort. Taking care of visually challenged sloth bears requires a sensitive approach, and our dedicated team of caregivers leave no stone unturned in order to make the bears feel calm and secure! 

Bron: www.wildlifesos.org