7 Sloth bear cubs rescued in India

09/06/2006 00:00:00 In a 5 day long joint anti-poaching operation conducted by Wildlife SOS, Forest Departments and the Police, several raids were conducted simultaneously in Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal. Two poachers were arrested in Uttar Pradesh and 2 bear cubs were rescued while 4 bear cubs were seized by the Wildlife SOS teams in West Bengal from the hands of wildlife smugglers. ‘Forestwatch’, The Wildlife Crime Intelligence wing of Wildlife SOS (run with support from One Voice Association, France) had received information through its informer network about the smuggling of baby bears from Orissa to various parts of India including Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal.

In the West Bengal Anti poaching operation 4 bear cubs were rescued on 15th February, 2007 from a settlement near Hugli, while one cub was rescued the previous day.

While 2 poachers were arrested and sent to Jail in Uttar Pradesh, no arrests have been made in West Bengal as the mob at the village helped the poachers to escape from the enforcement teams, but arrest warrants have been issued by the Police against all the persons suspected to be trading in these cubs.

The raiding teams conducted raids in several villages in the Fatehpur district area and recovered two bear cubs and arrested two people.

Kartick Satyanarayan, of Wildlife SOS said, ‘The cooperation we received from the police and forest department was excellent. Such seizures will create awareness as well as deter further crimes of this nature in the area. It is upsetting to see how these bear cubs are exploited in such a brutal manner for a few rupees’.

Sloth bear cubs are stolen by removed from caves after their mothers are killed by poachers for a mere 500 to 600 Rupees. These cubs are then purchased by illegal wildlife traders and sold to Kalandars who brutally insert a rope through the muzzle of these cubs and then use them to entertain tourists. This practice of dancing bears is banned under the Wildlife Protection Act of 1972 and is severely punishable with 7 years imprisonment and a fine of Rs.25000. Sloth bears are highly endangered and protected under schedule 1 of this Act.

‘Rescued Bear cubs suffer from trauma & stress due to separation from their mothers and require extensive care and attention. Rescued Bear cubs have been shifted for care to the Agra Bear Rescue Facility where a specialized cub weaning centre is available ‘said Shri Goyal.

These bear cubs are now recovering from their trauma of being separated from their mothers and probably even seeing her getting killed in front of their eyes. All of them are now being cared for by the staff at the Wildlife SOS-managed Agra Bear Rescue Facility, the World's largest Rescue and Rehabilitation Centre for Sloth Bears.

International Animal Rescue- UK, One Voice Association-France support Agra Bear Rescue Facility.