Bear Bating in Pakistan: A Short History
by Bear bating has been an issue of concern all around the world. this article describes the steps taken by the government of Pakistan towards elimination of bear bating in Pakistan in general and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province in particular.
It is assumed that both the species of bears are protected under the Wildlife Acts of Northern Areas and Azad Jammu and Kashmir.
OPERATIONALIZATION OF BEAR CENTE
Operationalization of Kund bear center in khyber pakhtunkhwa, will involve several actions explained hereunder:
1. Identification of bear location
Wildlife Departments of all the provinces, Northern Areas and Azad Jammu and Kashmir will be expected to keep a close vigil on bear baiting events and trafficking of bear cubs. Location of bear baiting and all bear cubs will be identified through formal and informal means. Assistance of NGOs like Habitat Integrated Pakistan and WSPA should also be sought in this regard.
2. Confiscation of bears and bear cubs
Assuming that all the Provincial Governments, Northern Areas and AJK will declare the bear species as Protected Animal well in time, the concerned Wildlife Department will proceed to confiscate the bear/bear cubs. There is likelihood of non-cooperation of bear owners in confiscation process. This will require the availability of bear handling skill with the department. The Wildlife Departments should therefore arrange to train 2-3 persons in bear handling by attaching them with bear owners for a few weeks. Alternately the bear center should arrange short training courses in bear handling techniques. Trained personnel can then be used for confiscation of bears.
3. Transportation of bears to bear center
Confiscated bears may be lying at different places in various Provinces. The Provincial Wildlife Departments may either arrange themselves for transportation of bears to the bear center or inform Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Wildlife Department of the location of confiscated bears and ask it to transport the bears to the center. However the concerned Wildlife Department will be responsible for all legal and logistic support for transportation within the provincial jurisdiction. Cost of transportation of the bears to the bear center should be borne by the bear center. Since the handling of bears during confiscation and transportation is a risky job, handlers may be trained in immobilization techniques for bears, and be provided with related equipment/chemicals. The Provinces are expected to build their own capacity in immobilization techniques, however till the time such capacity is built the bear center will provide necessary skills and equipment.
The Bear Center has the capacity of housing 25-30 bears. therefore the khyber pakhtunkhwa wildlife suggested that It should receive only those bears, which are involved in bear baiting. Dancing bears should continue to be in custody of owners. However these bears should be registered and marked with permanent collars under a time bound programme to safeguard against any future addition to the number of bears in captivity. Microchips can also be used for identification of these bears.
Courtesy: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Wildlife Department Pakistan
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