The goal of this website is to inform people about the ongoing cruelties and mistreatments of wild and captive animals in all parts of the world. All Creatures is in the process of becoming a non-profit organisation, which will aim to rouse attention and action from animal lovers everywhere in the hope of ending animal suffering. In many cases, animal suffering occurs in remote parts of the world, or countries with which few people are familiar. These are normally relatively poor countries where people have little money for their own families, let alone animals. Nevertheless, it is important to bring light to all animal suffering, regardless of the circumstance.
One of many examples is the current battle to end the cruel spectacle of dancing bears. Here is an outline of the current situation of dancing bears in Bulgaria.
Bulgaria's Dancing Bears
The Problem
* Situated in south-eastern Europe, Bulgaria remains the last country in Europe to still allow the captivity of wild bears for the purpose of bear dancing, an ancient gypsy custom. There are currently approximately 25 dancing bears in Bulgaria, which have been poached from the wild or bought from corrupt zoo keepers.
* Once acquired, the bear undergoes the painful process of learning to dance. It is usually done by first hooking through its nostrils a ring tied to a chain, then forcing the bear onto red hot plates. At the same time, music is played while the bear tries to keep its paws off the plates, thereby "dancing", and learning to associate music with pain. (It has been known for some bear owners to cut the front paw ligaments so the bear can no longer stand on them.) From that day on, the bear is slave to the ring on its nose, the pain controlling its every movement.
* The bears live a miserable existence: they have little or no shelter, limited water, and are fed just one loaf of bread per day - the entirely wrong diet for an animal that needs vitamin-rich vegetation, protein-rich meat and a constant supply of fresh water. As a result, many bears go blind from manutrition, lose their fur, and develop intestinal diseases. Other common injuries are torn nostrils and bleeding noses, as a result of the nose ring and chain.
* Every summer, the bears are dragged in hose-drawn gypsy carts across the country to the Black Sea coast, where they are paraded daily for tourists with hard currency. It is not rare for such a bear's income to feed a family of ten or more gypsies. It is tourists who perpetuate this cruel practice in Bulgaria.
The Solutions
With the relentless help of WSPA (World Society for the Protection of Animals), the generosity of Vier Pfoten ("Four Paws"), and the Brigitte Bardot Foundation, Bulgaria has made significant progress to end bear dancing. There is currently a sanctuary for dancing bears in the town of Belitsa (close to Blagoevgrad, South of Sofia) in the Rila Mountains of Bulgaria, which has bought 6 bears from gypsies at a cost of DM10,000 (approximately $6000). Vier Pfoten and the Brigitte Bardot Foundation plan to buy out all the bears within two or three years
As it is mainly tourists who perpetuate the practice of dancing bears, we ask tourists to not give money to photograph or watch dancing bears, or any other wild animals held in captivity elsewhere in the world.
We have put up posters around the Black Sea coast informing tourists about dancing bears. We are looking forward to creating a sponsorship programme for the bears in the sanctuary, and would like to ask any concerned reader of this website to help All Creatures in the fight against animal exploitation.
Please voice your disapproval by writing to the nearest Bulgarian Embassy. Here is the address for the Bulgarian Embassy in England:
President Petar Stoyanov
c/o The Bulgarian Embassy
186-188 Queensgate
London SW7 5HL
England
Belitsa in Pictures:
Each bear is provided with a fenced-in space that includes rocks, trees, a pool, and plenty of room to roam.
This is Malina - the first resident of Belitsa. She is much smaller than she should be for her age, and the psychological trauma of being chained to a 3-4 foot chain all her life is still with her. Despite the space she is given, she still paces back and forth in a 10 foot radius, much like a caged zoo animal.
This bear has come into her sheltered space for water. Her right eye is permanently damaged as a result of malnourishment and mistreatment.
For further information, questions, or comments, please e-mail:
Medora Pashmakova / All Creatures Animal Rights Advocacy