The Environment, Forest & Climate Change Department recently saved a male Asiatic black bear cub, who is only one month old, from the Sagalee area in the Papum Pare district.
The bear cub, suspected to have been orphaned due to poaching, was transferred to the Centre for Bear Rehabilitation and Conservation (CBRC) located at the Pakke Tiger Reserve. The Wildlife Trust of India (WTI) reported that this signifies the 85th bear cub taken in by the CBRC since its inception in 2004.
The CBRC operates in collaboration with the WTI and the state environment & forests department. The project receives support from the International Fund for Animal Welfare and Kirloskar Ebara Pumps Limited. It stands as the sole establishment in India that is exclusively committed to nurturing and rehabilitating bear cubs that have been orphaned.
The baby bear, originally suffering from dehydration and weighing only 2.3 kilograms, is now displaying indications of enhanced well-being.
The Asiatic black bear, classified as ‘vulnerable’ by the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, is confronted with numerous risks such as habitat loss and poaching. The bear cubs at the CBRC undergo a rehabilitation process that mimics their natural upbringing, which includes acclimatization, weaning, and regular forest walks.
Significantly, poaching poses the main danger in Arunachal Pradesh, as the illegal wildlife trade market highly values bear meat, bile, and claws.
