Some traditions are meant to be changed. But changing a tradition that has survived centuries takes more than time. It requires patience and the courage to face the challenges of fighting against patriarchal beliefs, and then re-imagine a sustainable and cohesive future for all.
For centuries, the Kalandar community was synonymous with the ‘dancing’ bear practice that drew curiosity and became a part of street entertainment. Nomadic, the Kalandar families travelled from village to village across Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Haryana, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, West Bengal and beyond. In many regions, one group depended on two or three ‘dancing’ bears for their livelihood, taming these animals for a spectacle that sustained them.
What appeared to be a performance was, in reality, relentless exploitation of sloth bears. Sloth bears were forced to perform without rest, moving constantly like puppets bound and tugged by visible strings of cruelty, surrounded by curious onlookers. But at the very same time, Kalandar families struggled to live, with no fixed homes, no access to education, and no sustainable income. A place where children grew up on the road, with an inheritance tied not to dreams, but to desperation.
The Cost of Survival
This practice, which was prevalent for nearly 500 years, was never about choice, but about survival and to make ends meet. Young sloth bear cubs were taken from the wild, often after their protective mothers were killed in an attempt to defend them. Their canines were broken, and their muzzles were pierced with red hot pokers to fit metal hooks on which ropes were tied. The tugging ropes through their noses would control their movements. The bear cubs were forced to walk over hot coals to the sound of the damru (hand drums) as training so that they would automatically ‘dance’ at its sound. The pain and fear of these animals, worth a meagre income from the onlookers, were mistaken as an act of entertainment, and their suffering remained hidden behind applause.
While the practice was made illegal back in 1972 under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, enforcement of the law remained weak for decades. By the early 2000s, the tradition itself was beginning to slowly collapse as legal pressure increased, but dwindling earnings for the community deepened poverty. Children were uneducated, and girls were married off at ages as young as 14. Families took loans from local moneylenders at crippling interest rates to cover wedding expenses, sinking further into debt that already weighed heavily on them. With little healthcare and no family planning, young girls bore the physical and emotional toll, with struggles that became alarmingly common among the women of the Kalandar community. Without intervention, the future looked grim as the community faced a loss of identity.
Listening Before Going Forward
In the mid-90s, Wildlife SOS Co-founders Kartick Satyanarayan and Geeta Seshamani chose a different path to resolve the grave issues this community was facing. It was rooted in listening, understanding the people behind the practice. To do so, the team lived among the Kalandar community and heard their stories, and what became clear was a simple truth: wildlife conservation could not succeed without addressing human suffering.
This was what led to the launch of the Tribal Rehabilitation Programme, built on three interlinked pillars: education, alternative livelihoods, and women’s rehabilitation. The aim wasn’t just to end the ‘dancing’ bear practice, but to replace this with new possibilities. The goal was to help Kalandar families settle down in one place, build stability, and realise an improved life that is beyond just survival.
Educating the Child
Education became the heart of transformation, because changing the mindset that was shaped over centuries can only happen with progress. In the beginning, only a small fraction of Kalandar children were brought forward by their families to attend school — parents were hesitant, unfamiliar with classrooms, and afraid of losing daily income. The children themselves carried their own anxiety as they had never entered a school before. Older children would have to join younger students to begin their academic journey, which affected their confidence. Learning was further complicated due to the absence of academic support at home, parents had never been to school themselves and could therefore not assist with homework or studies.
In order to smoothen the path for the community’s children, Wildlife SOS worked to identify schools and coordinate admissions. Counselling sessions were also conducted to reassure families at every step. The children were supported with uniforms, stationery, suitable shoes, and school fees. But challenges still remained, as dropouts were common, learning gaps were wide, and home environments were unstable.
Therefore, Wildlife SOS Tuition Centres were set up across areas where Kalandar families had settled down. Evening classes focused on homework support, clearing doubts, and building confidence. Slowly, attendance in schools improved as tutors assisted the children to clearly understand new topics introduced. Dropout rates fell dramatically, and till date, over 1,500 Kalandar children have received formal education. Once fated to travel with sloth bears from one place to another, young boys and girls of today now head to school carrying books of knowledge and, more importantly, bags full of dreams.
From Survival to Stability
Ending the ‘dancing’ bear practice meant replacing this source of income with viable options for the community. Initially, Wildlife SOS provided fixed financial support. But soon, the focus shifted to skill-based, self-sustaining livelihoods. Fundraising helped men to acquire cycles and rickshaws to earn through street vending, and assistance was given to open grocery shops, mobile food stalls, and tailoring units, all of which became stable sources of income. Older women were supported with poultry farming and cattle-rearing, reinstating dignity and stability in their later years. For those who wished to continue working closely with the sloth bears, Wildlife SOS also opened employment opportunities at its rescue centres, where former Kalandar community members now care for the very bears they once handled, closing a painful chapter for a far gentler one to unfold.
For families without homes, a project for roofing support was taken up. Canvas tents, tin sheds, and semi-permanent homes were provided that allowed families to finally stay in one place. As livelihoods stabilised, the path that led to poaching and exploiting sloth bears was broken down. The youth from the community had begun to associate themselves with skill development instead of illegal activities.
Building a Future
In a deeply patriarchal society, empowering women changed everything. Wildlife SOS brought in skill development programmes to welcome and encourage oppressed women to learn candle-making, making agarbatti (incense sticks), sewing, jewellery-making, gem polishing, bangle-making, and more.
To impart these skills and more, Wildlife SOS Sewing Training Centres have been set up, where women learn about product refinement, design sensibilities, and the true value their craftsmanship holds. From bold colour combinations to refined collections like inkle loom woven belts and tatting jewellery, the rehabilitation programme focuses on reviving traditional art and craft of India in items that are trendy and useful in today’s times. The success of this project is the newfound confidence in women of the community. As they began to earn, they were introduced to financial independence that has given them a voice to take household decisions, a say in their and their children’s futures, and a dignity that they had never experienced before.
To support and sustain this initiative further, Wildlife SOS also features handmade merchandise by Kalandar women in its centres’ gift shops, with proceeds from these sales going directly to the women. Their work travels beyond their homes and into the hands of visitors from around the world, ensuring that their craft and heritage are valued and seen.
Wildlife SOS also addressed deep-rooted social norms. To dent the issues surrounding marriages, mass marriage ceremonies were organised, and this resulted in two benefits. The first was that it prevented families from falling into debt. Having seen this positive outcome, the community itself began holding and participating in this ritual over time, creating a shift from dependency to ownership. The second and an extremely important aspect was strict age verification that ensured girls were not married before 18, bringing child marriages to a halt. This also ended early motherhood that was prevalent in the community, and adolescent girls were offered skill development to improve their present and secure their tomorrow.
From Exploitation to Advocacy
Today, many former Kalandars are wildlife protectors themselves. Some work at Wildlife SOS rescue centres, caring for animals with empathy born from awareness and experience. The Kalandar communities, once known for presenting forced performances, now stand as symbols of humane conservation. The transformation did not happen overnight, it took years to see meaningful change, and decades to sustain it. But the results are undeniable.
The story of the Kalandar community is not just about ending a harmful tradition. It is about proving that conservation works best when it includes people. By combining education and skill development, Wildlife SOS built a model where saving wildlife and uplifting communities go hand in hand. Today, sloth bears are safer, Kalandar children go to school, several women earn and thousands of families live securely. And now, what never took place in the past, is that children are finally allowed to dream. In a world where tradition and transformation often clash, the journey of the Kalandars reminds us that outlooks, based on the foundation of compassion, dignity, morality and shared responsibility for a future, can evolve.
This progress was possible because our efforts were met with support. Together, we can ensure that wonderful opportunities and the freedom to dream big reach children, women and families of the Kalandar community. Join us in strengthening our efforts to uplift the Kalandar community by making a donation.
Feature image: Suryoday Singh Mann/ Wildlife SOS
