Arunachal: Orphaned Asiatic Black Bear cub rescued at Mehao Wildlife Sanctuary
Dibrugarh: Forest department personnel from Arunachal Pradesh's Mehao Wildlife Sanctuary in Lower Dibang Valley district successfully rescued a three-month-old orphaned Asiatic black bear cub.
Led by Dr. Kabuk Lego, Range Forest Officer, the team acted swiftly on receiving information about the stranded female cub. A local resident had spotted the cub wandering alone near the Tezu-Hayuliang road (DT Road).
After a period of observation at the Roing Mini Zoo, the cub was transferred to the Central Bear Rehabilitation Centre (CBRC) in Seijosa, Pakke Kessang district.
The CBRC, a collaborative effort between the Forest Department and the Wildlife Trust of India (WTI), specializes in caring for orphaned bear cubs until they can be released back into the wild.
The Asiatic black bear, also known as the Himalayan black bear, is an important part of the Eastern Himalayan ecosystem.
However, due to threats like poaching, habitat loss, and conflict with humans, this majestic animal is listed as "vulnerable" by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).
Furthermore, it is included in Appendix I of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) and categorized as a Schedule I species under India's Wildlife Protection Act of 1972, offering it the highest level of legal protection.