Bear Needs No Protection: Wrestling Record Against Humans, 50,000 to 0
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HACKENSACK, N.J. — Animal lovers trying to protect Victor the Rasslin’ Bear from his human competition have been pinned to the mat by a judge’s ruling that the 650-pound bruin can take care of himself.
The Bergen County prosecutor’s office and county Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals said Friday that they lost their bid to prevent Victor from participating in wrestling matches at the Meadowlands Fair in East Rutherford.
Officials said that in the matches between Victor and volunteers from the audience, the bear was being taunted and subject to maltreatment.
But Victor--all 8-foot, 3-inches of him--has never lost to a human opponent in more than 50,000 matches over 23 years. And a Hackensack County judge decided this was no time for misgivings about the bear’s vulnerability at the hands of his lesser opponents.
“The show may go on,” Superior Court Judge David B. Follender said.
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