Tuesday 5 June 2007

Dancing Bears

See the gaily dancing bear
In town every day
See him turn and stand up tall
See him wave and sway

















He's just like my teddy bear
With who I love to play
Could we take him home at all
So he can dance all day

































Bear cubs are stolen from the den while the mother is out looking for food or after the thieves have killed her
















The cub is held down while a large needle is used to make a hole through the bear's nose and palate and a rope is forced through the hole. No anaesthetic is used. The wounds often become infected and the constant chafing of the rope prevents healing.






The jerking of the rope causes the bear extreme pain and makes him move his legs up and down. The 'dancing' is actually the bear hopping from foot to foot in agony.










To protect the 'handler' the bears teeth are ripped out and sold as good luck charms.
Without his teeth the bear cannot eat the proper foods and many suffer from digestive problems and malnutrition.

















The average life expectancy of a bear in the wild can be up to 30 years.
The average life expectancy of a 'dancing' bear is 8 years.







Somehow I don't feel like dancing, do you?