The Integrated Sloth Bear Conservation and Welfare Project (ISBCW) was initiated by the Wildlife Trust of India (WTI) in partnership with the World Society for Protection of Animals (WSPA) in 2005.

The key objective of this project is to reduce the human use of sloth bears, which is a threat to their survival in the wild and is also a major animal welfare issue.

Throughout their range in India, sloth bears are not only killed for their bile which is used in traditional medicines but also used as performing animals by traditional street entertainers or Kalandars.

Although this practice of bear shows is a livelihood issue for this tribe, sloth bears are physically abused and wounded by these shows. At a very tender age the sensitive muzzles of the bear cubs are mutilated by the Kalandars to insert a thick rope by which they force the bears to perform. WTI in collaboration with WSPA has initiated a holistic plan for conservation of sloth bears and to stop the illegal practice of ‘dancing bears’.

The action plan was implemented in collaboration with the government, the public and the Kalandar community with interventions at different levels. The areas of work include anti-poaching, rescue, health care & rehabilitation of the bears, providing alternative livelihood to Kalandars and targeted public campaigns. 

There have been many attempts to ‘rescue’ these bears by the government, and NGOs, all of which have failed to curb this practice as the approach taken was neither holistic nor farsighted.