BEAR BAITING IN PAKISTAN
Map of bear baiting regions in Pakistan
"This year the Himilayan Wildlife Foundation is in its eighth year since its inception.
The Deosai National Park has come a long way since its establishment and since the start
of our involvement in the management of the Park with the cooperation of Northern Areas
Forests, Parks and Wildlife Department and the Park's surrounding communities. The success
of the project is clearly visible by tangible accomplishments achieved on the ground,
some of which are: Protection of wildlife, flora and fauna; establishment with continued
management of checkposts on the entrances of the Park;
defining and implementing zoning areas for grazing; creating job opportunities for local
people by hiring them for project work; undertaking nature tours; helping locals to setup
camps for visitors in designated areas; educating the locals of the area by giving them
awareness presentations; printing and distribution of brochures and pamphlets to local
and international tourists; assisting research work on the ecosystem of the Park, and
especially the Himalayan Brown Bear.
Some of the research team that have visited the Deosai are: a team from Royal
Botanic Gardens, zoologists from Orange Free State University, South African National Parks
Board, US Fish and Wildlife Department, Hungarian Natural History Museum and a number of Pakistan
research institutions.
"A staff of seven is working in the field and managing the checkposts (all locals of the area).
There is a community coordinator in Skardu and there are four coordinators in Islamabad who make
frequent trips to Doosai during the season.
"Seven bears have been successfully collared. There is no evidence that any of the bears have
been poached. However, bears in the past have been poached but this have been significantly
reduced in the recent past due to the introduction of an effective management system in the Park.
"Till 1998 the Deosai National Park through the Himalayan Wildlife Foundation was funded by
UNDP's Small Grants Programme. This year there has been private donations;
but the bulk of the expenses will have to be met by the coordinators from their own sources.
The coordinators do not draw salary or any benefits for their time and work Therefore, any
outside donation is of much help to us.
The funds by The Bear Group S.A., will primarily be used for salaries and logistic expenses
of the field staff and staff at the checkpost." - By Mujahid Ahmad of the Himalayan
Wildlife Foundation.
In May 2000 The Bear Group S.A. donated $1000-00 to The Himalayan Wildlife Project
in Pakistan.
HWF is striving to heighten awareness among the communities on the periphery of Deosai Plains.
The field staff of HWF conducts surveys at regular intervals to document the movement,
behaviour and mortality of the bears with the assistance of the South African National Parks
Board and the US Fish and Wildlife Service. Radio collars have been placed on seven bears and
their movements are tracked on a regular basis.
The Deosai Plains are a breathtaking extravaganza of nature. The flowers, the lakes, the
grasslands and the streams are important components of this beauty. The presence of wildlife
nurtures the ecological balance in the area. If the brown bear perishes, Deosai will be one
step closer to becoming a wasteland. If it survives, the balance of nature will be assured
for the next millennium.
HWF has been active in the prevention of the following:
Through the protection measures introduced in Deosai, HWF has been able to arrest the damage
that was taking place due to increasing levels of human intervention. The management have
already started showing results in terms of increase in the population of key species such
as the bears, ibex
and fish. HWF have not been able to completely control the illegal activities. With extremely
limited staff and logistics constraints, the level of vigilance
is still inadequate. Additional efforts are needed at the local level to improve the level of
involvement of the local communities in park management.
The brown bear has served as an indicator species and much of the initial project efforts were
concentrated on research on the bears.
HWF has gradually revised its strategy for involving the communities to include all the
villages in the periphery of Deosai and populatiotis from towns
such as Astore and Skardu, This has helped in mobilising the public opinion to generate
support for enforcement of park rules and regulations and in gaining the goodwill of the
residents.
FACT SHEET
0 God, enlarge within us the sense of fellowship,
with all living things,
our little brothers to whom thou hast given this earth as their home in common with us.
May we realise that they live not for us alone, but for themselves and for Thee, and
that they love the sweetness of life even as we, and serve Thee better in their place than we
in ours.
First uttered by - St Basil, Bishop of Caesarea, 370 AD
Where does bear baiting occur in Pakistan?
Latest fights occurred in Punjab, Sindh and Baluchistan. These are rural towns in the North
of Pakistan.
When did it start?
First the Gypsies danced their bears for money. When the British began their rule, they
introduced animal baiting as a sport, using Bull Terriers. The sport has escalated since 1940.
Bear hunting has also grown as a result of widespread ownership of firearms and was used to
develop relationships with the British.
FACT
In 1994 Dr Chaudry reported bear baiting occurs in winter months between November - April.
What kind of bears are involved?
Is it illegal?
Yes.
Fact
It was banned by the Pakistan Legislature
under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act (1890).
Is it against the country's religion?
Yes, Islam forbids inciting animals to fight one another.
Who is involved?
FACT
In 1993, prior to an international outcry 80 registered bear baiting
events occurred.( ie +- 100 fights)
FACT
When did WSPA expose it?
In 1993, in Pinjals and Sindh.
What was the result of the International outcry?
December 1993 - Lahore said Government ordered all Provincial Authorities to enforce a ban on
bear baiting, to confiscate bears and move them to zoological garidens.
FACT
Because it contravened wildlife protection laws and violated Islamic
injunctions:
Government of NWFP declared a ban has been imposed. Also they felt it necessary to establish
a park, and needed sponsorship from international NGO's - (None Government Organisations).
Result: A few cases brought against offenders. WSPA knows of no confiscation of bears.
Who informs WSPA?
Dr Inayat Chaudry of "Habitat Integrated Pakistan," was the foremost authority on the matter.
He was committed to conservation of wildbears.He Kept WSPA informed of events.He sadly passed
away in 1999.
Who is John Joseph?
Regional Manager for WSPA in Asia. WSPA - The World Society for Protection of Animals.
Who is Jeffrey Changrin?
Freelance cameraman who photographed events.
Areas visited - Sargodha and Mianwali districts.
When did WSPA go to Pakistan of late?
How much money does a Kalander earn?
± £12 = 600 rupees = ± R 132.00 for fighting his bear. Bear has to fight 2 - 6 dogs.
How much does a bear cost the Kalander to purchase?
± £ 100 = 60 000 rupees = R1 100.
Value of the bear to the Kalander?
£ 1 600 = 100 000 rupees = R17 600.
FACT:
Landlords loan the gypsey money to buy a small house which he must pay back.
Still he needs money for his family, food for his animals and bear.
FACT:
One lost bear a year. When a bear dies, he lays the bear's prostrate at the feet of the landlord
to offer pleasure. Results in gifts from the landlord.
What type of dogs are involved?
Pit Bull Terriers, mixed with a local breed "Kohati" - males are used from the same litter
for inbreeding.
Value of a dog?
£ 1 600 = 100 000 rupees = R17 600.
Any time from 3 years old upwards. Maybe younger. Most die by age 4 - 7 years. Life
expectancy in the wild 20 - 30 years. One owner had 7 bears in 5 years. (± one bear
per year).
At what age is a bear forced to fight?
How tall is a bear?
1.4 to 1.7 metres.
Weight?
± 120kg for a Asiatic Black Bear.
What are the rules of the game?
FACT:
Sometimes other dogs are set free from members of the audience
due to the excitement.
FACT:
Takes one minute to get the dog's jaw loose from the bears flesh,
by means of a stick.
How long is a fight?
Depends on how soon the bear surrenders or scores points. Intervals of 2 - 3 minutes between
fights. Gypsies douse water onto the wounds but no medical treatment given. Bears usually do
not get water during an event.
FACT:
Bear is made to dance a little jig after it has been beaten by the dogs!
Prize money?
At some events up to 2 000 rupees.
FACT:
One bear had his nose almost entirely ripped open. He had to endure another three further
attacks after his first fight. One female bear had to endure three attacks until she was exhausted.
Why is this continuing to happen?
FACT:
Landowners have easy access to bears, held by the gypsies and to show of their dogs at any time.
FACT:
Gypsies also dance their bears at weddings for additional income.
FACT:
Gypsies pass the "profession" down from generations to generation.
FACT:
Most have large families to support, care for their bears and give medical treatment after
fights (if the they can afford to do so).
What does Habitat Integrated Pakistan plan to do?
What does the audience think?
What do the rural people need?
WSPA needs to lobby for a permanent officer within the Wildlife Department for enforcement
of this.
BEARS IN PAKISTAN-By Mujahid Ahmad (HWF)
THE HIMALAYAN WILDLIFE PROJECT: -MARCH 2000
HWF e-mail
The Himalayan Wildlife Foundation (HWF) is a non-profit, non-govemmental
organisation dedicated to safeguarding the biodiversity of Pakistan's Northern Areas.
The Deosai National Park (DNP) project has been in operation since 1993 and has been
instrumental in efforts to alleviate the endangered status of the Himalayan brown bear.
The institutional framework for Deosai remains fragile and weak- No specific funding is
available for staff positions, operational expenses and development of infrastructure.
In the absence of resources HWF has had to rely more or less entirely on its own resources.
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