Rescued Asiatic black bear cubs get a second chance at life in India

Mr. Dhawan Kumar Rawat, IFS, Divisional Forest Officer, Pakke Tiger Reserve, told WTI, "The cubs are currently under close observation. At CBRC, the bears will receive essential care and nurturing until they are prepared to return to the wild."

Established through a partnership between WTI, IFAW, and the Department of Environment and Forest, Government of Arunachal Pradesh, CBRC has spent years giving orphaned Asiatic black bear cubs a second chance.

To date, more than 40 orphaned cubs have been successfully rehabilitated through the programme and returned to their natural habitat. The work reflects the importance of collaboration between local communities, frontline forest staff, veterinarians, animal keepers, and conservation organisations. Without the quick action of local residents and the coordinated response from Arunachal Pradesh Forest Department officials, the cubs may not have survived.

As the cubs settle into their new surroundings, their journey back to the wild is only just beginning. Each feeding, health check, and carefully managed forest introduction will play a role in preparing them for the day they can return to the forests where they belong.

For the team at CBRC, every successful release represents more than a rescue story. It is proof that with the right care, expertise, and long-term commitment, orphaned wild animals can have a future back in the wild.