Bear cubs ride ‘palanquin’ to planned freedom in Arunachal
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Handlers cowl 8 km by way of fast-flowing streams and dense foliage to shoulder the journey of two orphaned cubs deep inside an acclimatisation centre in Pakke Tiger Reserve.
Loki and Hela, two orphaned Asiatic black bear cubs, have been individually pushed virtually 1,000 km in customised autos to the Centre for Bear Rehabilitation and Conservation (CBRC) through the COVID-19 lockdown in May.
The centre adjoins the 861.95 sq km Pakke Tiger Reserve (PTR) in Pakke-Kessang district of Arunachal Pradesh.
But the 2 cubs in all probability had the ride of their life greater than a fortnight in the past — in bamboo ‘palanquins’ shouldered by their handlers by way of fast-flowing streams and dense foliage in PTR, their residence to be.
There are quite a few streams throughout the park that seem benign however are tough to cross even in winter when there’s much less water.
| Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
Few are as acquainted with the PTR as forest workers Tinku Kino and Kampu Kino and CBRC’s Doluk Dagong and Biri Aman. Familiarity with the panorama, nonetheless, was no insurance coverage in opposition to a false step throughout a 20 km journey — an 8 km stretch on foot — for shifting the cubs from the CBRC to an acclimatisation centre deep contained in the PTR.
“Rivers such as Kameng, Pakke and Pasanala serve as natural boundaries for much of the PTR. There are numerous streams within the park that appear benign but are difficult to cross even in winter when there’s less water,” PTR’s Divisional Forest Officer P. Tali advised The Hindu.
“The rivers provide us a ring of protection, helping us manage with 41 anti-poaching camps. But these very rivers and streams prevent us from covering more ground. It is not easy to negotiate the rivers, especially while carrying bear cubs in a palanquin-like cage,” he stated.
According to wildlife veterinarian Panjit Basumatary, the cubs could take about six months on the acclimatisation centre earlier than they are often safely launched in the PTR like 26 different cubs reintroduced in the wild since 2003, when the CBRC was arrange by International Fund for Animal Welfare and Wildlife Trust of India (WTI).
Cubs could take about six months on the acclimatisation centre earlier than they are often safely launched in the PTR.
| Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
Loki, the male cub, was discovered by a farmer close to Dekapam village close to Pasighat in East Siang district (of Arunachal Pradesh) on March 30. Hela, the feminine cub, was rescued from Patgaon village in Assam’s Kamrup district on March 26.
“The cubs could not be brought to the CBRC immediately due to the COVID-19 restrictions. While forest officials in Assam knew how to deal with Hela, my predecessor Madhurjya Borah advised the Dekapam farmer over phone on handling Loki until both could be brought to the CBRC,” Mr. Basumatary stated.
The two cubs travelled to the CBRC virtually on the identical time however they didn’t meet till August 26. It took a number of days for them to recover from their aggression in the direction of one another.
“Animals take time to adjust to new environment and overcome the proximity to humans at the rehabilitation centre. Hopefully, they will adapt soon to the acclimatisation centre for an early release into the wild,” Mr. Pali stated.
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