PETA Sting Prompts Protest at Bear Pits

Video Exposé Narrated by Bob Barker Reveals Chief Saunooke Bear Park's Anti–Native American Racism, Drug Use, Cruelty to Animals

For Immediate Release:
January 11, 2013

Contact:
Shakira Croce 202-483-7382

Cherokee, N.C. -- Led by a costumed "bear" and holding signs that read, "Bear Pits: Cruelty, Racism" and "Close the Bear Pits Now," a group of PETA supporters will screen video footage (available here) from its new undercover investigation of Chief Saunooke Bear Park (CSBP) outside the main park entrance on Saturday. The action comes less than a week after PETA released the investigation (available here), which documented systemic neglect, deprivation of food and veterinary care, and abuse of bears as well as sexual harassment by one employee and illegal drug use by another. In addition, an employee called Native Americans "long-distance corn n*****s," and the facility's manager admitted to a secret policy against hiring Native Americans.

When:   Saturday, January 12, 12 noon

Where:  Outside Chief Saunooke Bear Park, near the corner of Tsali Boulevard and Acquoni Road and in front of the sign for the reservation, Cherokee

TV icon and animal activist Bob Barker, who narrates PETA's footage of CSBP, has joined PETA in calling for CSBP's bears to be confiscated and relocated to an accredited sanctuary without delay. PETA has also filed formal complaints with federal agencies and the Eastern Band of the Cherokee Nation regarding CSBP's discriminatory hiring practices, failure to pay workers the minimum wage, and more.

"CSBP is a miserable place on every level, from the neglect and deprivation of the bears to the racism and sexual harassment of employees," says PETA Senior Vice President of Cruelty Investigations Daphna Nachminovitch. "PETA's exposé shows the need to shut down these miserable pits."

For more information, please visit PETA.org.