Bear dance is something many kids enjoy. A cute furry little bear dancing around to a drum, one of the most popular things I saw back in my home country. There were also monkeys that were brought around on cycles and made to dance. I used to enjoy it when I was a kid, because at that time I thought the monkey and bear were having fun, just like when people dance and have fun! However, as I grew up, I learnt of how cruel and horrible such practices were! The torture the bears and monkeys go through is incomparable! Can you imagine a thick rope being pierced through the roof of your mouth and and then through your nose? And then can you imagine the pain felt when someone yanked the rope to make you do something?
It gives me goose bumps to just type this, and those babies go through this every minute! When dancing, if a bear does not make the right move, the rope is yanked. This pains him and he continues. It is the same with the monkey.
In fact at times, camels and horses are also treated the same way. They are not meant to dance, but the rope through their nose gives the rider power to 'navigate' the animal.
The sad thing is that most people are unaware of such horrible things that happen right in front of their eyes! They tend to think that animals are having fun when they are doing what they are supposed to do. True, at times they do have fun, but not always. Most of the times, bears and monkeys do not have a choice. They are inducted into this 'industry' right since birth.
Another problem that these animals face is that the people who own them are not very well-off. They are therefore unable to provide the right medical attention when needed. In fact people who take the bears don't realise that it would pain the bear! It often becomes a family business and hence people just continue in their parent's footsteps.
Awareness and education about the reality of the situation is the only weapon against this! If you have seen something like this, share your story below!
