It is important to breakdown and evaluate success stories. We have to know what we are doing…that is
working, and then figure out how to do more of it!
Success Story:
For hundreds of years a nomadic tribal community known as the
Kalandar had used the practice of bear dancing for entertainment. Wildlife SOS India has helped to end this
cruel practice of keeping sloth bears in captivity where they are forced to
“dance.” For now approximately 10,000
sloth bears are left in the wild. It was
estimated that over 1,200 bears had been kept in captivity. These bears are now being turned over to the
Arga Bear Rescue Facility.
How we accomplished this:
Step 1: Wildlife
Protection Act of 1972 – banned the possession of sloth bears
Step 2: Agra Bear Rescue Facility was establish to help the
local governments implement the regulation.
Step 3: Wildlife SOS India engaged the Kalandar community –
living with them in over 60 villages and building trust. The communities exchanged bears for skill
training (carpet weaving, driving, welding, grinding and packaging spices,
sewing jewelry-making, gem cutting and polishing, running tea shops, and
vending vegetables) – changing the lives of over 300 families.
Step 4: Forestwatch (Wildlife SOS’s anti-poaching unit) continues
to work with government officials to track bear cub poachers. Over 70 bear cubs have been rescued so far.
Step 5: The Agra Bear Rescue Facility now hosts on-going
training programs, workshops, and lectures for the Kalandar community and serves
as a research facility for veterinary procedures and management.
Way to go Wildlife SOS India!
No comments:
Post a Comment