Two Orphaned Asiatic Black Bear Cubs Rescued, Find New Home in Assam’s Dehing Patkai

In a significant step for Assam’s ongoing wildlife conservation efforts, two orphaned Asiatic black bear (Ursus thibetanus) cubs rescued earlier this year from the Dissoi Reserve Forest in Jorhat were soft-released into Dehing Patkai National Park, officials announced on August 20. The cubs, only four and six weeks old at the time of discovery, were found alone by a local youth and handed over to the Nakachari Beat Office under the Jorhat Forest Division. With no trace of their mother, the cubs were shifted to the Centre for Wildlife Rehabilitation and Conservation (CWRC) in Kaziranga for specialized care.

Dr. Sonali Ghosh, Field Director of Kaziranga National Park and Tiger Reserve, detailed that at CWRC, the cubs were treated for mild dehydration and nurtured in the small mammal nursery under the close supervision of Dr. Bhaskar Choudhury and his team. They were fed on a canine milk replacer and gradually introduced to conditions that would prepare them for survival in the wild. The rehabilitation process strictly followed the Asiatic black bear rehabilitation protocols of the Centre for Bear Rehabilitation and Conservation (CBRC), Pakke Tiger Reserve, Arunachal Pradesh.

The primary focus of the rehabilitation program was to ensure proper nutrition, maintain natural behaviors, and minimize human imprinting to maximize the cubs’ chances of successful reintegration into the wild. CWRC followed a structured approach, combining hands-on care with gradual exposure to natural conditions, ensuring that the cubs could develop essential survival skills while remaining minimally dependent on human interaction.

A scientific survey was conducted to identify the most suitable release site. While the Dissoi Reserve Forest was initially considered, its proximity to human settlements and high disturbance made it unsuitable for rehabilitation. Factors such as natural cover, distance from human habitation, prey availability, and local community awareness were systematically evaluated, leading to the selection of Dehing Patkai National Park. The park, with its rich vegetation, abundant natural resources, minimal human interference, and committed support from forest staff and local communities, was deemed ideal for the cubs’ reintroduction.

Formal approval for the site selection and release was granted on June 4, 2025, by the Office of the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Wildlife) and the Chief Wildlife Warden of Assam. Following this, the CWRC team successfully translocated the cubs to Dehing Patkai National Park, giving them a genuine opportunity to thrive in their natural habitat.

Dr. Ghosh emphasized that the journey of the cubs—from their rescue in Jorhat, through care and rehabilitation at CWRC, to their release in Dehing Patkai—serves as a powerful example of what science-driven rehabilitation, ethical wildlife management, and community involvement can achieve. The initiative demonstrates Assam’s growing commitment to protecting its wildlife heritage and ensuring that even orphaned animals are afforded a second chance at freedom.

The successful rehabilitation and release highlight the importance of meticulous planning, adherence to standardized wildlife protocols, and community engagement in wildlife conservation. By prioritizing minimal human interaction, natural behavior development, and careful site selection, Assam’s forest authorities and CWRC have set a benchmark for wildlife rescue and reintroduction programs. The initiative also reflects the state’s proactive measures to conserve its biodiversity and emphasizes the need for science-based approaches to ensure long-term survival and well-being of endangered species like the Asiatic black bear.

Overall, this effort not only provides the orphaned cubs a secure and sustainable future but also reinforces Assam’s role as a leader in ethical, community-supported, and scientifically guided wildlife conservation in India.