Dancing sloth bears were once a common street attraction in South Asia, and the rehabilitation of former dancing bears is one of conservation most remarkable welfare success stories.
The elimination of dancing bears in India represents one of animal welfare most inspiring success stories. Wildlife SOS achieved this not through confrontation but by working with the Kalandar community — the traditional bear keepers — to provide alternative livelihoods while rescuing the bears. The rehabilitation of former dancing bears, animals who had known only captivity and pain, to sanctuaries where they can dig, forage, and socialize demonstrates the resilience of animal wellbeing given appropriate conditions. This model of community engagement for welfare change has broad applicability across cultural traditions involving animal suffering.