Arunachal: Himalayan Bear Rescued and Handed over to Authorities in Lower Siang

Itanagar, May 2, 2020:

An Asiatic Himalayan Bear Cub which was rescued during the first week of April in Arunachal Pradesh was handed over to the officials and veterinary doctors of the Centre for Bear Rehabilitation and Conservation (CBRU) of Pakke Tiger Reserve in East Kameng District on Thursday.

It is to be mentioned here that the bear was rescued by Marmi Riba of Old Deka village under the New Seren Circle in the Lower Siang district of the frontier state.

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Informing about the rescue and handing over of the two-month-old Asiatic Himalayan Bear to the rehabilitation centre, Jumgo Geyi, the Range Officer of the Nari Forest Range of Pasighat Forest Division said that the Bear Cub was too young to survive in the wild if released, and hence the cub was handed over to the animal rehabilitation centre.

“On getting the information of rescue, we informed the authorities of Biological Park in Arunachal Pradesh capital, Itanagar, but due to nationwide lockdown the transportation of the cub was not possible. However, the cub was taken care by the rescuer with telephonic guidance of the Veterinary Officer of Biological Park. On pursuance of Tashi Mize, DFO Pasighat Forest Division, the officials of CBRC took custody of the bear in the presence of the rescuer and forest officials including Tasang Taga, the DFO of the D. Ering Wildlife Sanctuary in Pasighat”, added Geyi.

As per sources, the mother of the bear cub has been likely killed by hunters as hunting of wildlife has been reported in many pockets of the state. The foothill mountains in and around Gutin Reserve Forest under Pasighat Forest Division from where the bear cub was rescued need constant and timely monitoring from forest department officials to keep a check on illegal hunting.

In recent years, report of Royal Bengal Tiger with cub were also reportedly roaming around in those forest areas of Gutin RF foothills, and as per the locals of the area,. However, Ruksin locals have informed that poachers/hunters are in the lookout/search of the tiger for its illegal trade.

It is pertinent to note here that the Asiatic bear rehabilitation project was officially launched on the 15th of March 2002, following the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Department of Environment and Forests, Arunachal Pradesh and Wildlife Trust of India. Since then, the centre is home to the many rescued Asiatic Black Bear cubs of the region.

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