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Sun 20th Jul 2008
	03:00	How Far Do Leaves Fall?
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	05:00	Doctors on the Frontline
	05:25	Saving a Stranger
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Free the Bears

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This isn't scheduled anytime soon.

In May 2006, International Animal Rescue and its Indian partner Wildlife SOS (WSOS) created its third bear sanctuary in India, adding a new facility in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh in central India to its existing ones in the north and south of the country.

Rescuing dancing bears

The organisations say the new facility shows that they mean business and are determined to bring an end to the dancing bear trade, and to build a new future for the Kalandar people who 'dance' the bears.

This documentary - Free the Bears - looks at how dancing bears are treated as circus acts on the streets led by a leash with their teeth removed. The bears are often kept in tiny cages and tied permanently to the bars by a rope from a brass ring through their noses. They are unable to move around and are restricted to standing or sitting, staring blankly through the bars. The animals can become highly traumatised and depressed.

The Animal Rescue team take the bears away, heal any wounds they may have and put them into a bear sanctuary - an area that is similar to their natural habitat. The bears in the film are the ones who've been rescued. And because they've had their teeth removed, a poignant part of the film shows the bears giving their rescuers safe affectionate hugs. The film shows them coming to terms with their drastic removal from a life of hard work and mistreatment in what is a sanctuary, and not a zoo.

The Indian government has given IAR the go-ahead to rescue all these bears and the International Animal Rescue has signed an agreement to help treat the bears and help them to return to their natural environment.

The animal rescuers have a huge task ahead of them. The dancing bear population comprises around 800-1200 bears and the start of the third sanctuary shows that the work being undertaken is proving to be a success.

Last Updated ( Thursday, 10 August 2006 )

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International Animal Rescue

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