Captive Bears In Japan Exploited, Mistreated

by Patricia Collier

The World Society for the Protection of Animals (WSPA) and the Japanese animal welfare group, All Life In A Viable Environment (ALIVE), are reporting substandard conditions in Japan's eight bear parks.

Their official document, released December 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.

For the past 12 years, WSPA and ALIVE have been working for improvements at the parks, but the new report noted little action has been taken to aid the welfare of the bears.

The animals, according to WSPA and ALIVE, receive inappropriate food and do not have enough space, shelter or even medical care.

Victor Watkins, Director of WSPA's Liberty campaign, describing the conditions of the parks said, "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."

"Bears injured in fights often have their wounds left untreated and many distressed bears display stereotypic behavior, rocking back and forth on the spot," she said.

According to reports and citings by members of the welfare groups, bear cubs who 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.

In three parks, Noboribetsu, Aso and Okuhida, some of the cubs are forced to do "circus acts" such as handstands or riding bicycles. 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.

"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," she said.

In 1991, the World Society for the Protection of Animals (WSPA) 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.

WSPA is recommending that any individual who wants to help the bears should send an "eProtest" to Japan's Minister of the Environment.

This can be done by going to http://www.wspa-international.org/site/index.php?page=105#, clicking on the "Japan's Parks of Pain" link, and adding your name and country to the on-screen message, which will then be sent on your behalf.

© 2003 Animal News Center, Inc.