Animal rescuers from Vienna

Pakistani fighting bears released from torture

Dr. Khalil (right) and his team carefully provided emergency medical assistance.(Bild: © FOUR PAWS | Usman Ghani)

Two sensitive bears - who were forced to dance and robbed of their dignity in Pakistan - have been freed by "Vier Pfoten".

"Their torture is unimaginable. They are kept on a chain and have to endure a ring being pulled through their highly sensitive noses. And before they dance, their claws and teeth are pulled out," says Viennese "Four Paws" activist Elisabeth Penz with tears in her eyes.

What shocks her even more is that the practice of hunting the noble wild animals as fighting bears is - like dancing - still permitted by law throughout Pakistan. However, at least two of the creatures have now been snatched from their heartless owners by a dedicated team from the animal welfare organization.

The bears' nose rings were removed from this particularly sensitive organ under anesthetic.(Bild: © FOUR PAWS | Usman Ghani)

"Both of our protégés were in an extremely poor physical condition. They had only recently been abused for an infinitely cruel exhibition fight. We were able to free them from miserable private care and flew to Punjab especially for this purpose," explains "Vier Pfoten" veterinarian Dr. Amir Khalil, who was able to place "Laila" and "Boogie" in a protection center in the Asian state after appropriate treatment.

The bear rescuers are deeply grateful to the country's Supreme Court, the advisor to the Pakistani Prime Minister and the state authorities: "They made this life-saving help possible in the first place."