News release

30 June 2006

Kiwis to help end medieval blood sport

New Zealanders can help stamp out the gruesome and medieval sport of bear baiting by taking part in the appeal launched by the World Society for the Protection of Animals (WSPA).

The appeal aims to educate New Zealanders about bear baiting – a blood sport which pits toothless bears against dogs in Pakistan.

Media and Campaigns Officer for the World Society for the Protection of Animals, Bridget Vercoe, said bear baiting was possibly the world’s most savage sport.

Bears, with their teeth removed, are tied to a post and set upon by dogs. Without their teeth, the bears have only their weight to protect them and that is little defense against the tearing jaws of the many dogs they are expected to fight at each event.

The bear baiting events are promoted by rural landlords who wield huge power in Pakistan. They own and train the dogs and gain prestige from having the most ferocious animals.

The bears are owned by a gypsy group, known as Kalanders, who are paid by the landlords to bring the bears to the contests. Most fights attract a crowd of up to 2000 spectators.

Bear baiting and the capturing and keeping of bears in Pakistan is officially illegal. Yet it still occurs regularly, particularly in the Punjab and Sindh provinces.

Ms Vercoe said WSPA with the help of New Zealanders could put a stop to this horrific sport.

“The Pakistani authorities are committed to working with WSPA to stop these illegal bear baiting events. But we can not do it alone. We need New Zealanders to help us fund investigators who will find the bears, identify their captors to police, then use the legal protection of the authorities to shut down the events and get the bears to safety. All confiscated bears are sent to the WSPA supported bear sanctuary in Pakistan’s Kund Park,” she said.

Education programmes in schools and the communities where bear baiting is still practiced are also needed to complement any enforcement initiative.

WSPA‘s work has already helped to reduce the number of bears involved in bear baiting from 300 to about 50. Most people in Pakistan who were aware of the events are now opposed to the animal cruelty.

To find out more about WSPA’s work or to make a donation, please phone 0800 500 9772.

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Bear baiting was once widespread in Europe. It is now only found in rural areas of Pakistan.

Bear baiting in Pakistan is illegal under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act of 1890 and the Pakistan Wildlife Act. It is also illegal under Islamic Law to bait animals.

Although illegal in Pakistan for more than 100 years, WSPA‘s first investigation in 1993 found evidence of 80 different contests involving 300 bears.

In the past, events were largely organised with the backing of local authorities and dignitaries. Today they tend to be more closed.

Admission costs the equivalent of NZ$1. A bear owner receives up to NZ$220 per event and a fully trained bear or dog can be worth more than NZ$3000.

ENDS

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