A black bear named Rocky has been rescued from brutal conditions in eastern Pakistan and relocated to the capital for urgent medical treatment, a welfare organisation confirmed on Sunday.
Rocky, a seven-year-old bear, had been kept illegally in Punjab province, where he endured severe abuse in at least 35 fights. Local authorities intervened to remove him from captivity and place him in a safer facility.
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However, the centre lacked the necessary resources to provide him with proper care, prompting officials to move him to Islamabad for specialised treatment.
An international animal welfare team from Four Paws travelled to Pakistan to assist in Rocky’s rehabilitation. On Sunday, veterinarians conducted surgery to address his injuries.
“We were able to remove the chains and nose ring,” said Dr Amir Khalil, a veterinarian with Four Paws. “Physically, his condition is stable, but he has suffered immensely. He has a fractured jaw, no teeth, and multiple wounds on his ears due to fights and dog bites.”
Dr Khalil highlighted that bear fighting remains a cruel and illegal practice in Pakistan, though it continues in some regions despite laws prohibiting it.
Pakistan has long struggled with animal welfare issues. In December last year, an elephant died at a safari park less than two weeks after being reunited with her sister.
The incident was the latest in a series of tragedies affecting captive elephants in the country. Similarly, in 2020, two severely neglected Himalayan brown bears, previously forced to perform as dancing bears, were removed from Islamabad’s zoo and sent to a sanctuary in Jordan.
