peta2 mobile

Home | Get Active | Living | TV | Shop | About PETA | Donate Now

Bulgaria's Last 3 Dancing Bears Freed

Written by PETA

Posted 06-18-2007

11 Comments

Redadmin/Creative Commons

Some great news this weekend for Mima, Misho, and Svetla, the last of Bulgaria's "dancing bears," who were released to a mountain sanctuary on Friday after a lifetime of torture in the service of a horrific tradition. The process of forcing these animals to perform—a practice which sadly still continues in India and Pakistan—involves attaching a metal ring through their noses, which is pulled by a chain to create enough pain to induce them to walk on burning embers. According to the AP, the release of Mima, Misho, and Svetla to a sanctuary, thanks to the efforts of an activist group called the Four Paws Foundation, marks the end of a centuries-old tradition. Not only is this amazing news for the rescued animals, it’s also a great sign that people are finally starting to see just how cruel and barbaric it is to force animals to perform for our entertainment. Someone should probably tell Ringling Bros.

Share

Tags:

fur, Bulgaria, letter, bulls, bear, john, lennon, maher, dancing

Recent Comments

jacqueline saint-john commented:

8-9-2010 8:05 PM

This is beyond disturbing....
Atanas commented:

1-21-2009 1:55 AM

I'm from Bulgaria too. i have seen dancing bears once it was sickening. I have read that the Roma people all around Europe used these bears not only to make a show but to make people believe they had special powers and were in control of black magic. So they were left alone. I have no idea why we couldn't stop that earlier.
Stefan commented:

10-15-2008 10:27 AM

This is really great news. I am 42 yo Bulgarian living abroad and I remember this bears. Warning now!!! I do not point fingers and I do not defend any nation just try to explain the tradition And first I will say that the "dancing bears" show existed in Bulgaria only because it found enough cheering and cruel public among the Bulgarians themselves. Here is my theory maybe the connection to India and Pakistan explains why I remember only Roma people being the masters of the bears. As you know Roma were Indian nation before they arrived to Europe. So maybe this is really ancient tradition. This was business for the Roma the same like shining and polishing of metal pots or production of wooden instruments or traveling musicians. To the bears again I remember myself feeling lost in such cheering crowd and asking myself what is wrong with me am I the only one who looks the poor animal in the eyes and feel sick? But now it is over. Thankfully.
Pirina commented:

11-29-2007 9:06 AM

I really hope these are really THE LAST of the dancing bears..... I am bulgarian and I was schocked remembering these bears..... hope its over now...
helena commented:

6-19-2007 7:29 PM

anything happening for the bears used for bile production these bears up to 20 years in asia with a tube in their bile duct and lying with no movement in tiny cages.
Cody commented:

6-19-2007 6:38 PM

Two thumbs WAY up to Four paws foundation !! For stoping "Bear Dancing"in Bulgaria and if you ask me that's not dancing that's plain torture !
Kathleen W. commented:

6-19-2007 6:27 PM

This is great news!! I really hope the other countries that do this sick torture also stop this practice. Tradition does not justify torture!!!!
kris shulfer commented:

6-18-2007 6:46 PM

yeh!!! i am so excited for there new lives to begin away from the human torture!!Major thanks to the Four Paws Foundation!!! i hope they are running and playing freely and living much better lives!!!!
Fritz commented:

6-18-2007 1:57 PM

PETA is working to make sure the laws against capturing "Dancing Bears" are enforced in Pakistan and India you can help too by going to httpgetactive.peta.orgcampaigndancingbears
Veronica commented:

6-18-2007 1:30 PM

Thank you Four Paws Foundation! Just looking at that picture makes my nose hurt so I can't imagine what these poor innocent bears have gone through! What the hell is wrong with people? Why is this considered entertainment for some people? I just don't understand. If this is still going on in India and Pakistan I hope PETA is on the case! This has got to stop!

Page:

1
|
2

Post a Comment

Display Name *
Your Web Site
E-Mail *
Comment *

Sign me up for PETA E-News and special announcements from PETA.
* Required field(s).

By signing up here and giving us your details, you are acknowledging that you've read and you agree to our privacy policy.

REPORT CRUELTY

If you have a general question for PETA and would like a response, please e-mail Info@peta.org. If you need to report cruelty to an animal, please click here. If you are reporting an animal in imminent danger and know where to find the animal and if the abuse is taking place right now, please call your local police department. If the police are unresponsive, please call PETA immediately at 757-622-7382 and press 2.

Recent Posts

Michelle Sherrow

'Maxim' Proves It's Hot to Love Animals

Posted 4 hours ago
Michelle Sherrow

Army in the Market to Mutilate 3,600 Goats

Posted 5 hours ago
Jeff Mackey

'Win It' Wednesday: Rich Roll's 'Finding Ultra'

Posted 9 hours ago
Alisa Mullins

New Shellfish Test Saves Thousands of Mice

Posted 12 hours ago
Michelle Sherrow

Bike Race Sponsor Called Out for Cruelty

Posted 05-22-2012
Jeff Mackey

PETA Sues Feds Over Ringling Permits

Posted 05-22-2012
Michelle Sherrow

Telemundo Star Fights for Suffering Lion

Posted 05-22-2012
Michelle Sherrow

City Cancels Ringling's Scheduled Shows

Posted 05-22-2012
Michelle Sherrow

Imprisoned Dolphins Released

Posted 05-21-2012
Michelle Sherrow

All This Horse Needed Was a Little Teeth-L-C

Posted 05-21-2012

PETA

Bunnies Drowned at Ohio Petland

Posted 08-04-2009

1,664 Comments
PETA

Why We Euthanize

Posted 03-30-2009

986 Comments
PETA

PETA's Statement on Eagles Vick Signing

Posted 08-14-2009

761 Comments
PETA

Do You Have 60 Seconds to Save Seals?

Posted 04-04-2011

714 Comments
PETA

Victory! 80 Monkeys Saved From Laboratory

Posted 08-13-2011

687 Comments

PETA Tweets

Follow PETA on Twitter!

Most Shared

Feeds

Friends

Friends

General Info: Contact | Contest Terms and Conditions | Disclaimer | Privacy Policy | Texting Terms and Conditions | Terms of Use | Report Website Abuse

Site Tools: Accessibility | Site Map | Subscribe to E-News | Copyright © 2012 PETA | Read our full policy.

International Sites: | PETA Asia-Pacific | 亚洲善待动物组织 | PETA Latino | Animal Rahat

Navigation: Home | Features | TV | Action Center | Blog | Issues | Living | Community | Shop | Donate | Interactive | Media Center | About PETA

People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals 501 Front St., Norfolk, VA 23510 | 757-622-PETA (7382) | Fax: 757-622-0457 (fax)

PETA is a nonprofit, tax-exempt 501(c)(3) corporation.