Abused Bear Rescued in Pakistan, Moved for Treatment

A black bear, known as Rocky, has been rescued from a life of abuse in the eastern region of Pakistan and transported to the capital, Islamabad, for urgent medical care, a welfare organization confirmed on Sunday.
Rocky, a 7-year-old bear, had been illegally held in Punjab province, where he endured mistreatment through involvement in 35 cruel fights.
Authorities intervened, relocating him to a safer environment, though it initially lacked the necessary medical resources. As a result, officials made the decision to transfer Rocky to Islamabad for better care.
A specialist team from Four Paws traveled to Pakistan to provide assistance. Veterinarians performed surgery on Rocky on Sunday.
Dr. Amir Khalil explained, “We successfully removed the chain and nose ring. Despite his physically stable condition, Rocky has suffered significantly. He sustained a jaw fracture, lost all his teeth, and has multiple wounds on his ears as a consequence of fights and dog bites.”
Dr. Khalil highlighted that bear fighting, notwithstanding its illegality in Pakistan, continues to occur in certain areas.
Pakistan’s track record with animal welfare has been problematic. Last December, an elephant in a safari park succumbed to death less than two weeks after being reunited with her sister, marking another chapter of misfortune for captive elephants in the country.
In 2020, two ailing and poorly cared-for dancing Himalayan brown bears were transferred from a notorious zoo in Islamabad to a sanctuary in Jordan, underlining the challenges facing animal conservation in Pakistan.