 Bear at a Park in Japan
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Dec. 10, 2003 — The World Society for the Protection of Animals and the Japanese animal welfare group All Life In A Viable Environment have reported substandard conditions in Japan's eight bear parks.
Their official document, released Dec. 4, said the bears are being kept in deplorable conditions in open concrete pits and encouraged to fight and beg for food thrown at them by tourists.
Such an environment, the report said, contradicts standards set by the Japanese government itself, along with the Japanese Association of Zoological Gardens and Aquariums.
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For the past 12 years, the two welfare groups have been working for improvements at the parks, but the new report noted that little action has been taken to aid the welfare of the bears.
The animals, according to the report, receive inappropriate food and do not have enough space, shelter or even medical care.
"Dozens of bears are crowded into bare concrete pits where they are left hungry for most of the day and tormented by crowds of visitors who tease them by throwing in 'bear biscuits' and watching the ensuing fights that take place," said Victor Watkins, director of the World Society for the Protection of Animals' Liberty campaign.
"Bears injured in fights often have their wounds left untreated and many distressed bears display stereotypic behavior, rocking back and forth on the spot," said Watkins.
According to reports and citings by members of the welfare groups, bear cubs that are born into captivity in the bear pits are at risk of being killed by the adult bears.
Some of the cubs are taken from their mothers while still only weeks old and kept chained and frightened in petting areas for the amusement of tourists, said the report.
In three parks, Noboribetsu, Aso and Okuhida, some of the cubs are forced to do "circus acts" such as handstands or riding bicycles, said the report. The "tricks" are taught with a fear-based training process, and punishment is severe.
"It's disheartening that the parks have failed to meet even the basic recommended welfare standards," Watkins said. "Japan's bear parks display a shameful disregard for animal welfare, which is taking its toll on hundreds of captive bears that are exploited for entertainment."
Watkins continued, "It is high time that the Japanese government passed an animal welfare law that will bring Japan's treatment of animals into line with that of the rest of the developed world."
In 1991, the World Society for the Protection of Animals investigated and exposed similar inhumane conditions at Noboribetsu, one of the eight zoos under investigation once again.
At that time, officials at Noboribetsu were found to be slaughtering bears at a nearby wildlife butchery and selling the gall bladders. After an international outcry, the gall bladder trading ended.
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Name: Brown Bear, aka Grizzly Bear (Ursus arctos)
Primary Classification: Ursidae (Bears) Location: North America, Europe and Asia. Habitat: Large areas of open wilderness, including tundra, mountain forest and alpine meadow. Diet: A variety of seasonal vegetation, including grasses, roots and berries. Also fungi, insects, fish and other mammals. Size: Up to 9.2 ft in length and 1,720 lbs in weight. Description: Thick coat of fur; usually dark brown but can vary from blonde to black. Large, muscular shoulder hump. Concave profile. Powerful limbs. Long claws, non-retractable front claws. Cool Facts: They have the widest distribution of all bear species and vary greatly in size and appearance across their range. Vies with the polar bear for being the world's largest predator. Conservation Status: Not listed by the IUCN. |
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