Two bears rescued from bondage

By K. Venkateshwarlu

HYDERABAD, Sept. 23.For the two cuddly bears, it was freedom at last from agonising pain and bondage. Thanks to some quick thinking by an young animal rights activist of the People For Animals, the bears have been rescued from their "masters-turned- tormentors" and handed over to the Nehru Zoological Park.

The bears were on their daily trauma-filled routine at Pochampalli village in Nalgonda district: play to the tune of their "master", beginning with "Chel beta salaam kar". It may look funny for the onlookers, but to make the bear do this "salaam", he would pull the tightly held leash attached to a brass ring pierced into its nostrils. It is this pain that makes it lift the limb to soothe the nostril, which is taken by curious watchers for "salaam".

The greetings over, he would make it dance, again using the same trick. If it does not work, he would often poke a stick, leaving no option to the poor animal already writhing in pain but to obey his orders. Not satisfied with making it perform antics, he would pluck tufts of hair from its abdomen area and sell them as "taavis" (talisman) to bring good luck and ward off evil. Each of this could fetch him Rs. 5 and on a single day they would sell 100 such tufts.

Watching all this was "quite unbearable" for Mr. Ravi, a young animal rights activist who was on a visit to Pochampalli, famous for silk sarees, on Tuesday to help his friend in shopping. He immediately approached the Bodhan-Pochampalli police station and called People For Animals office in Hyderabad. The helpful Sub- Inspector of Police, Mr. Lakshman, rushed to the spot and seized the bears. The People For Animals meanwhile, sent an animal rescue van, equipped with first aid box and water.

"It was nothing but sheer torture and no animal lover could stand the cruelty. Enquiries revealed that the male-female pair aged between three and four had been brought all the way from Kurnool. After walking for a long distance, their limbs were swollen and they were gasping for breath. I simply did my job," said Ravi.

The bear trappers, Hussain and Kasim, tried in vain to convince Mr. Ravi and Mr. Lakshman that they had a "licence" from the Forest department to catch the animals. Obviously it was a forged document. The bears were escorted to the zoo by another young People For Animals Inspector, Mr. Krishna Rao, on Wednesday. "First aid and three days of care by the zoo authorities, they look better now," he said.

Animal rights activists in the city were upset and surprised that such illegal activities should still be going on brazenly. "We feel outraged. We will not leave the perpetrators of this crime and demand their prosecution," said Mrs. Vasanthi M. Vadi, secretary of the People For Animals. She explained that catching the bear, an endangered species, protected under Schedule 1 of the Wild Life (Protection) Act, was an offence. They could also be booked under the law relating to cruelty to animals. She said the People For Animals would be too keen to rescue animals in distress, if instances of cruelty were brought to its notice. The telephone Nos. of PEA are 7537540/ 41 / 42.

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