Bear Cub Lissy Rescued From Brutal Dancing Trade in India

A young sloth bear with a pierced muzzle and shattered teeth is finally safe after being rescued from India's brutal "dancing" bear trade.

The female cub, now named Lissy, was found near the Jharkhand-West Bengal border after forest officials received an anonymous tip about a man carrying her. Her injuries told a heartbreaking story: handlers had threaded ropes through her nose and broken her teeth to force her to "dance" for street performances.

Wildlife SOS rescued Lissy and brought her to their dedicated center, where she arrived malnourished, weak, and dehydrated. International Animal Rescue, a Sussex-based charity, supported the rescue through their long partnership with Wildlife SOS. The team is providing round-the-clock care, and Lissy is already beginning to trust her rescuers.

The bear was named after Lis Key, a beloved International Animal Rescue colleague who dedicated over 20 years to fighting the dancing bear trade. Alan Knight OBE, president of International Animal Rescue, said naming the cub after his dear friend felt deeply fitting.

"Lis gave her heart to this work for over 20 years and stood beside me throughout the fight to end the dancing bear trade," Knight said. "I know she would have been profoundly moved to see this young bear now safe, protected and finally given the chance of a life free from fear."

The Ripple Effect

International Animal Rescue and Wildlife SOS have partnered since 1999 to protect India's sloth bears. Their collaboration helped convince India to officially ban the dancing bear trade in 2009, ending centuries of cruelty for thousands of bears.

Lissy's rescue shows that while progress is real, the work isn't finished. Bears near India's borders still need protection, and rescued animals require ongoing rehabilitation. Every rescue strengthens the network keeping these animals safe.

Gavin Bruce, chief executive of International Animal Rescue, captured the hope behind this rescue: "The cruel practices that Lissy endured should have no place in this world. Thankfully with Wildlife SOS' care she will be given the life she deserves."

Lissy is recovering more each day, finally experiencing life without fear or pain.