Itanagar, Sep 25 Three orphaned Asiatic Black Bear cubs under rehabilitation in Arunachal Pradesh’s East Kameng district have begun their journey back to the wild at the Pakke Tiger Reserve in the northeastern state, officials said on Friday.
The male cubs, transferred to a pre-release site from the Centre for Bear Rehabilitation and Conservation on September 24, will undergo a soft-release protocol to acclimatise before being fully reintegrated into the forest, they said.
A joint team from the Wildlife Trust of India (WTI) and the Arunachal Pradesh Environment, Forest & Climate Change Department is escorting the cubs on a 26-km trek on foot and elephant back to the site.
“From rescue to rehabilitation, these young bears are now taking an important step towards returning to the wild,” Pakke Tiger Reserve DFO Dhawan Kumar Rawat said.
Dr Panjit Basumatary of the WTI said the cubs will explore the forest under expert guidance over the next five to six months until they are fully ready for independent survival.
The Asiatic Black Bear is protected under Schedule I of India’s Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.
(PTI News)
