One of Nepal's last dancing bears dies after rescue

One of Nepal's last known dancing bears that was recently rescued has died after being transferred to a zoo, an animal rights activist said today, blaming the death on "negligence".

The two sloth bears were rescued in southern Nepal in December last year from a pair of itinerant street performers who used the animals for entertainment.

Shortly after their rescue, the bears -- 19-year-old male Rangila and Sridevi, a 17-year-old female -- were transferred to a zoo near the capital Kathmandu where they were put in cages on display.

A few weeks later, the female bear died.

"(We) were told that she had some problem in her liver and that it was jaundice," said Niraj Gautam of Jane Goodall Institute Nepal, who was involved in the rescue of the bears.

"These animals should have been thoroughly checked. There was nothing. That's the negligence we want to point out."
"The zoo is giving the best care they (are) capable of (giving) to the bear."