Zubair Qureshi
Four Paws vets together with the Islamabad Wildlife Management Board (IWMB) rescue team finalized on Sunday dedicated veterinary checks on the last three Asiatic bears—two male and one female—castration (of male bears) and dental treatment, dressing of wounds and removal of the infected teeth of all the three.
They are currently housed in the rescue center, the old zoo sit of Islamabad. With the final round on Sunday, treatment/surgical procedures of all eight Asiatic bears—six male and two female—stands completed.
Dr Frank Goeritz, Dr Amir Khalil, Dr Marina Ivanova, Velizar Angelov, Ahmad Badal and Pia Einheimler are the Four Paws team members who remained at the site along with IWMBS’ Dr Usman, Sakhawat, Sana Raja and Aneela all these three days providing much-needed medical, clinical and surgical care to these animals that have recently been confiscated from various cities of Punjab.
Four Paws team lead Dr Amir Khalil also held several meetings with IWMB’s chairperson Rina Saeed, board members and local officials assuring the global animals welfare group’s assistance and guidance to help and support the IWMB in construction of a sanctuary for bears and to provide all expertise in this regard.
Pakistan has reported several cases of maltreatment of the Asiatic bears as they are torture by their captors and made to dance and fight for the sake of money.
All these animals were rescued from different cities of Punjab on the special instructions and interest of Marriyum Aurangzeb, senior minister of the province. They were wounded, their nails pulled out and teeth broken, etc.
Still there are three or four bears rescued by the Punjab wildlife department from Sargodha and Bahawalnagar and the IWMB and Four Paws are all ready to house and treat them once they are transferred to Islamabad.
We need an NOC from the Punjab wildlife department for handover of these animals and since the Four Paws team is in Islamabad the sooner we shift them to Islamabad for treatment and checkup the better, said Owais Awan Advocate counsel for the IWMB.
He hoped that the respective courts of Sargodha and Bahawalnagar would have no objection to the shifting of these animals to Islamabad.
A spokesperson for the Four Paws while talking to media said the global animal welfare group undertook the mission on the request of the IWMB and performed various medical procedures including ultrasound, vaccinations, anti-parasites, micro-chipping, claw trimming, and teeth treatment. A female bear Barfi received a life-saving dental procedure removing 2 canines and 2 incisors.
A male bear Bhaloo had a wound on neck and got treated. His three teeth were also surgically removed due to inflammation and abscess, which included one canine and two incisors.
Cuckoo a male bear, also received dental treatment. His 5 teeth needed to be removed due to cutting and breaking off during illegal captivity as a dancing bear. Roots not removed therefore ongoing inflammation and abscess, were frequent problems. All the treated bears are doing fine after their procedures and seem to enjoy a healthy pain-free life.
