Two orphaned Asiatic black bear (Ursus thibetanus) cubs, rescued from Dissoi Reserved Forest in Jorhat on February 26, 2025, have successfully begun their new life in the wild with their release into Dehing Patkai National Park, Assam, marking an important milestone in Assam’s wildlife conservation journey.
The cubs, estimated to be between four and six weeks old at the time of rescue, were discovered alone by a local youth and handed over to the Na-Kachari Beat Office under Jorhat Forest Division.
As subsequent surveys found no trace of their mother, they were transferred to the Centre for Wildlife Rehabilitation and Conservation (CWRC), in Kaziranga, for specialised care.
“On World Environment Day, we celebrate one of Assam’s inspiring conservation success stories under the leadership of Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma. After months of dedicated care and rehabilitation at CWRC, Kaziranga, two orphaned Asiatic black bear cubs were successfully released into Dehing Patkai National Park, where they now have a second chance to thrive in the wild,” a social media post from the Chief Minister’s Office, stated.
Established in 2002, CWRC in Kaziranga, is a joint initiative by the Assam Forest Department, the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW), and the Wildlife Trust of India (WTI).
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 reared on a canine milk replacer and gradually introduced to conditions that would prepare them for survival in the wild.
The rehabilitation of the orphaned Asiatic black bear cubs in CWRC followed the Asiatic black bear rehabilitation protocols of the Centre for Bear Rehabilitation and Conservation (CBRC), Pakke Tiger Reserve, Arunachal Pradesh. The rehabilitation process focused on ensuring proper nutrition for optimum growth, retaining natural behaviour, and minimising human imprinting to secure their chances of successful reintegration.
In line with best practices, a scientific survey was undertaken to determine a suitable release site. While the Dissoi Reserve Forest was considered, its proximity to human settlements and high disturbance made it unsuitable for bear rehabilitation.
A systematic evaluation based on natural cover, distance from habitation, prey availability, and local community awareness identified Dehing Patkai National Park as the most suitable release site.
Offering rich vegetation, abundant natural resources, minimal human interference, and committed support from forest staff and local communities, the park emerged as the ideal new home for the cubs.
Formal permission to proceed with the site selection and release was granted on June 4, 2025, by the Office of the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Wildlife) and Chief Wildlife Warden, Assam.
Following this approval, the CWRC team led by senior vets Dr Bhaskar Choudhury and Dr. Mehedi Hassan and experienced animal keepers and forest frontline of Choraipung range of Dehing Patkai National Park, translocated and reared the cubs, giving them a genuine chance to thrive in the wild.
In A First For Assam, Orphaned Asiatic Black Bear Released In Dehing Patkai National Park After Rehabilitation
