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Titli, former ‘dancing’ bear, celebrates 13 years of freedom at Agra sanctuary

Titli, a sloth bear who was rescued from the cruel ‘dancing’ bear trade in 2011, has completed her 13th year of liberation at the Agra

By Ground report 26 Feb 2024

New Update

Titli, former ‘dancing’ bear, celebrates 13 years of freedom at Agra sanctuary

Titli, a sloth bear who was rescued from the cruel ‘dancing’ bear trade in 2011, has completed her 13th year of liberation at the Agra Bear Rescue Facility, a sanctuary run by Wildlife SOS, an animal welfare organisation. The 14-year-old bear, who was snatched from her mother and brutally mutilated as a cub, has overcome her past traumas and now enjoys a life of joy, freedom, and companionship.

Titli rescued from abusive captivity

Titli was rescued at the tender age of eight months from Mirzapur, Uttar Pradesh, where she was forced to perform on the streets by her Kalandar handlers. She had a limp on her left forelimb and a puncture wound on her nasal bridge, where a hot iron rod had been driven through and a coarse rope had been threaded.

She was one of the hundreds of sloth bears who suffered this fate for centuries in India, until Wildlife SOS, in collaboration with the government and other partners, put an end to the practice in 2009.

publive-image — Titli playing with an enrichment ball inside her enclosure.

Following her rescue, Titli underwent a 90-day quarantine period, during which she received a complete health checkup and treatment for her injuries. She was vaccinated against rabies, leptospirosis, and infectious canine hepatitis. She also received painkillers, supplements, and regular health examinations to monitor her progress.

Dr. Ilayaraja S, Deputy Director- Veterinary Services, Wildlife SOS, explained, “The initial step was to conduct an x-ray to check for any internal injuries in the bear. With round-the-clock care and supervision, Titli’s progress in healing her muzzle injuries has been remarkable. It’s truly a significant achievement to witness her health improve over the years.”

Titli thrived in rehabilitation environment

After the quarantine period, Titli was introduced to a large socialisation enclosure, where she met other rescued bears and learned to interact with them. Based on her personality, she was matched to a group and moved to a larger, free-range area, where she had access to trees, ponds, and enrichments.

Today, Titli is a courageous and indomitable bear, who displays a zest for life that is truly inspiring. She enjoys scaling trees, manoeuvring through enrichments laden with honey, and basking in the company of her neighbouring bear Neelkanth. Her once-visible muzzle wound now exists only as a scar, concealed beneath a fully grown, thick, and fluffy black coat.

Kartick Satyanarayan, Co-founder and CEO of Wildlife SOS, stated, “Despite the challenges she faced in her early years, Titli now enjoys a life filled with joy, freedom, and companionship. Whether galloping in her enclosure, playing in the pond, or climbing trees with her fellow bears, Titli embodies the true essence of being free.”

Geeta Seshamani, Co-founder and Secretary of Wildlife SOS, mentioned, “Sloth bears targeted for the ‘dancing’ bear trade endured brutal mutilation, with hot iron rods forced through their noses and coarse ropes threaded through. Rescuing Titli from this cruel fate was a crucial victory for both Wildlife SOS and the bear herself.”

Baiju Raj M.V, Director- Conservation Projects, Wildlife SOS, said, “Upon Titli’s rescue, her infected muzzle posed a significant threat to her health. Without intervention, the untreated wound could have led to severe complications for the bear. Wildlife SOS’ timely rescue underscores the organisation’s unwavering dedication to the well-being of sloth bears.”