Blind Bear Found With Rope Through Nose Is So Much Happier Now (His owner used to hurt him with it to make him 'dance.')

In 2013, rescuers found Goldie near the Nepal border in India — and they found him just in time. The 5-year-old bear was in bad shape — he was dehydrated and sickly, and he had a frayed rope tied through his nose, which seemed to be causing him a lot of pain.

Wildlife SOS

Goldie's handler had been using him "dancing bear," forcing Goldie to perform silly tricks for people in exchange for cash.

"When the bears are still tiny cubs, their captors make a hole through the top of their snout with a red-hot needle," Lis Key, PR and communications manager for International Animal Rescue (IAR), told The Dodo. "Then a rope is threaded up through their nostril and out through the hole. The aim is to control the bear and make it 'dance' by jerking on the rope."

Wildlife SOS

Instead of allowing their snouts to heal, it's common practice for the handlers to keep the wounds open and raw so that the bears respond to pain and obey instructions, Key explained. If this doesn't work, the handlers will try other cruel tactics.

"Sometimes thorns or even nails are knotted into the rope to cause even more pain," Key said. "If the wound heals up, the handlers either reopen it or create a new one."

Wildlife SOS

Thankfully, Goldie didn't have to live like this forever. Dancing bears have actually been illegal in India since 2009, so a team from Wildlife SOS, as well as local police, rescued Goldie and three other captive bears — Truffles, Kandi and Oreo — who were found in the same area.

The handlers had been trying to smuggle the bears into Nepal, according to Key.

Wildlife SOS

Goldie was then transported to the safety of one of IAR's bear sanctuaries in India, which are run collaboratively with Wildlife SOS andFree the Bears Australia, where he could live in the company of other bears.

Wildlife SOS

One of the first things the rescue team did was remove the rope from Goldie's nose. A gaping wound remained, but it would eventually heal.

Wildlife SOS

Goldie's teeth and gums were also in horrible condition.

"It seems Goldie's handler had made several attempts to knock his teeth out to make him easier to control, and left him with terrible broken and infected teeth and gums," Key said.

Wildlife SOS

On top of everything else, the vet team discovered Goldie was blind. "It is either a result of the chafing of the rope across his eyes or from malnutrition, or blows to his head," Key said.

The vet team couldn't restore Goldie's vision, but they worked on Goldie's teeth, removing the rotting ones and treating his gum infections.

Wildlife SOS

After this, Goldie became a completely different bear. He could finally eat and not feel any pain. He started taking huge gulps of porridge, cleaning his bowl, and even cleaning the other bears' bowls.

Wildlife SOS

"Goldie is very mischievous and loves to try to steal food from the other bears' dens before they get to it," Key said. "He eats his porridge and honey with relish and particularly enjoys treats of coconut chunks and dates."

Wildlife SOS

"He likes digging up insects in the termite mounds and lounging in his hammock during the heat of the day," Key added. "He's very possessive of the hammock and will tussle with Rocky bear, who often tries to share it," Key added.

Wildlife SOS

He might steal his friends' hammocks and food, but Goldie doesn't do without anything at the sanctuary. Now he gets all the food, water, attention and care that he needs — and he'll never have to "dance" on the streets again.

Wildlife SOS

It costs about $1250 a year to care for a rescued dancing bear. To help Goldie enjoy a happy retirement, and to help IAR, Wildlife SOS and Free Bears Australia rescue other bears, you can make a donation.

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Suri's say:

• This is a repost from thedodo.com
• This is one of many reasons why animal show (especially using wild animal) is wrong and cruel
• There always abuse to subdue their wildness and natural behaviors. In this case, the bear purposely harmed and make bleed to make it in pain and  struggling to look like dance (where the bear actually was totally in pain and struggling with its body)
• He was so in pain and suffering by the abuse to end up blind
• So lets educate peoples that animal shows is usually cruel, dont go or contribute a cent. Instead educate people that it is a shame thing to do, it is not a blessing to abuse animals to get money. We sometimes work with animals, but with respect and care towards them
• ANIMAL SHOW IS ALWAYS CRUEL, DON'T CONTRIBUTE 

Circus Tigers Brave Whipping To Check On Fallen Friend "(They know he is in trouble and needs help and they want to give it to him.")

Big cats trained for the circus often face a lifetime of punishment from trainers — but these tigers wouldn't let that stand in the way of checking on a friend.

Back in January, a circus performance at China's Hangzhou Safari Park went awry when one of the park's white tigers reached his breaking point. Tired of being prodded with his trainer's whip, the tiger grabbed the tool in his teeth and dragged the man back across the stage.

YouTube/Animals Asia

As a clip of the incident shows, eventually the trainer releases the whip, sending the tiger stumbling a few feet backwards into a water-filled pool in front of the performance area.

The other trainers can be seen in the background cracking and waving their whips to keep the other tigers in line. But as soon as the first tiger falls into the pool, one of the others breaks rank and runs over, apparently to check if he's OK.

YouTube/Animals Asia

The second tiger touches noses with the one in the pool, before realizing the trainers are closing in on him — he appears to cower, cautiously pacing back and forth between the two approaching men. One trainer appears to hit him with his whip, driving him back into the performing area.

However, a few moments later, as the tiger in the pool drags himself back onto land, one of his friends again rushes over to his side — followed quickly by the rest of the rest of the tigers on stage, who surround the wet tiger, nuzzling him as he tries to dry off. Eventually, the trainers appear to give up, cracking their whips and yelling to usher the tigers off the stage.

According to welfare group Animals Asia, the video went viral in China, where people were moved by the sight of the tigers displaying such worry for their companion.

"The video clearly shows the tigers empathizing with the plight of their peer," Dave Neal, animal welfare director for Animals Asia, said in a statement. "They know he is in trouble and needs help and they want to give it to him. They are torn between their training, with its threat of violence, and their natural sympathy for another tiger in danger."

China's circuses in particular have long been dogged by animal welfare concerns — a 2016 investigation into several Chinese circuses showed lions and other animals being beaten and kept in tiny, filthy cages between performances.

But the problem is hardly limited to China. Across the world — including in the U.S. — circus cats are trained using fear-based methods: They'reoften whipped and shouted at, as the apex predators are unlikely to obey their trainers, let alone be safe to work with, unless they're "broken in." Performing elephants are trained using bullhooks — point instruments trainers use to jab at the animals and make them obey.

This photo shows one of the tigers shortly after the incident, with a bleeding wound on his face. It's unclear what caused it.Animals Asia

But despite the attempts to break their spirit, it seems trainers can't entirely stifle the empathy that seems to arise between circus animals — back in 2015, a video emerged showing circus elephants rushing to the side of their friend who fell while being forced to perform a stunt.

In this latest case at least, it seems some good has come out of the incident — Hangzhou Safari Park has reportedly suspended performances while conducting an internal review.

But Animals Asia is still hoping the brief clip will help people in other countries see the plight of performing tigers in a new light.

"These tigers were not born to perform — they do so under duress," the group said. "Not because they enjoy it."

To help Animals Asia improve the lives of circus tigers and other animals in Asia, you can make a donation. You can also sign this pledgepromising to avoid shows with performing animals.

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Circus Elephants Rush To Help Friend Who Fell During Cruel Stunt

 Suri's say:

• No no no no no... such a sad scene to watch
• Circus never were and ever will be for the sake of animals, they all were mistreated to perform beyond their capabilities for the interest of greedy people. 
• Animal lover will never agree to circus because animals performing beyond their capabilities is very not normal and animal is fun and special just as it is
• Please people have a heart, animal circus is definitely one of cruelty towards animals. Educate peoples around you that ANIMAL CIRCUS IS CRUEL!
• This is a repost from thedodo.com