Ethical Travel - An End To Extinction
An End to Extinction
Story Highlights
The Red List
The Sun Bear
Captured Bears
How You Can Help
The Red List
The Red List is a worldwide analysis into the conservation of thousands of species. It is updated annually, with an in depth analysis every four years, and is completed by The International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN); the largest and most indispensable conservation network in the world. The Union's mission is to inspire, support and help individuals and societies worldwide to conserve nature and make sure any use of natural resources is fair and sustainable.
The Sun Bear
Lumbering through the forests at night, snacking on fruits, berries, insects and small animals, the sun bear feeds and exists in harmony with the rainforests. This was their way of life before their homelands were rapidly depleted by deforestation and poachers hunted them for body parts and fur. Some farmers kill them because they eat their crops and adults females are frequently slaughtered so their cubs can be stolen and raised as pets.
As a result the Sun Bear, also known as the Malayan Sun Bear and Dog Bear, has now been classed as vulnerable on the 2007 IUCN Red List. It is the smallest of the bear species and mostly lives in the south east Asian rain forests. It takes its name from the bib-shaped patch on its chest which is said to represent the rising sun.
The only bear currently listed by the IUCN as critically endangered is the giant panda. Despite huge conservation efforts in China, including the founding of 60 panda reserves, a ban on logging and widespread reforestation programs, the bear still remains at risk of extinction.
The vulnerable species include Andean Bears (also known as spectacled bears) from the Andes Mountains of South America and Asiatic Black Bears and Sloth Bears, found in Asia.
Captured Bears
It isn't only bears in the wild who are facing increased levels of danger. Those in captivity are also in peril. Many are abused in bear baiting, forced to dance for audiences and subjected to the torture of bile-bear farming.
Bear baiting takes place in Pakistan and is possibly the world's cruellest blood sport. The bear's teeth and claws are removed, it is then tied to a post and left defenceless as it is set upon by Pit Bull Terriers.
More than two thousand Asiatic Black Bears and Sloth bears, both classed as vulnerable, are forced to dance for public entertainment in Pakistan and India. These bears are often stolen as cubs and have a hole pierced through their lips or nose so a chain or rope can be forced through. Tugging on the rope prevents fresh wounds from healing and the bears find no relief from raw, painful infections. In this never-ending agony they hop around in what looks like a dance, in an attempt to avoid the pain.
Almost 12,000 bears are kept on bear farms in China, Korea and Vietnam, held in cages about the size of a telephone booth. These cages are placed on their side in order to extract bear bile. Despite many alternatives, bear bile bile is used in shampoo, wine, eye drops and ointments.
How You Can Help
Petitions to stop the cruelty of bear-bile farming, dancing bears and bear baiting only take a minute to sign and can be found here. Volunteering for the WWF in many countries has never been easier. See this web link for more information or become an online activist to support conservation worldwide.
Wherever you live, there is an organization near you working to conserve nature and natural resources. Search the IUCN membership database for an organization near you and find out how you can help.
- Jen Page
