Sign up to The Irish Times Archive (1859 - 2008)My Account »
Tue 12 Dec 2009Raju, the last of India's long-mistreated dancing bears, finds permanent sanctuary
WHEN RAJU, a four-year-old dancing bear, walked into a sanctuary with his owner in India’s southern Karnataka state last week, it ended a cruel practice dating back to Mughal times.
Raju is an endangered sloth bear, the last of more than 600 to be given a permanent home and lifetime care in special sanctuaries across India, instituted by the UK-based International Animal Rescue, India’s Wildlife SOS, Australia’s Free the Bears Fund and France’s One Voice Association.
Choose a Subscription type - required
