How These Rescued Bears Are Kept Warm And Healthy During The Harsh North Indian Winters

As the bone-chilling cold that has gripped most of North India for the past couple of weeks continues to make life difficult for humans and animals, wildlife conservation NGO Wildlife SOS is making special arrangements for the rescued bears under its care.

According to Wildlife SOS, which has Sloth bears, Asiatic Black bears and Himalayan Brown bears at its rescue centres in Agra, Bhopal and Jammu & Kashmir, dietary changes are one of the most important measures to keep the animals warm and healthy.

WILDLIFESOS

Why the bears need special care

"Understanding that winter care calls for special attention to be given to the bears' immunity, the veterinary team has introduced feed additives such as liver tonics, vitamin and mineral supplements along with protein. It is of utmost priority that their health is not compromised and all of us get to witness more of the bears as they play around in their favourite season," Baiju Raj MV, Director- Conservation Projects Wildlife SOS, said.

At the Agra Bear Rescue Facility¨C the world's largest Sloth Bear Rescue Facility and the Van Vihar Bear Rescue Facility in Bhopal, the Sloth bears enjoy a special winter diet consisting of warm porridge, broth, puffed rice balls and jaggery (molasses) to help boost immunity and induce body heat.

WILDLIFESOS

Bears with an abusive past

These bears share a history of victimisation to the cruel 'dancing' bear trade and had arrived in pitiful conditions at the NGO's centres which are run in collaboration with the state forest department.

They were mainly physically mutilated and severely traumatised. Fine expertise in disease management, specialised veterinary care as well as advanced research has helped in their healing journey.

WILDLIFESOS

Special food and warm beds

For most hours of the day, the bears are sighted resting in freshly dug mud pits or hammocks to soak up the warm winter sun. In Agra, the temperatures can dip to single digits, so the bear care staff must ensure the bears' comfort is taken care of.

"Special care is taken for geriatric (aged) bears under our care¡ªtheir enclosures are covered with tarpaulin sheets to shield them from the cold, there is warm bedding material with woollen blankets and dry grass or hay, and halogen lamps and heaters are installed outside the sleeping dens," Baiju added.

WILDLIFESOS

"Our veterinary team and caregivers ideate every year to come up with helpful winter care management plans. These measures are crucial to provide much-needed warmth to the bears as well as prepare conditions for an active lifestyle with the help of food-based enrichments," Kartick Satyanarayan, Co-founder and CEO, of Wildlife SOS, said.

WILDLIFESOS

Keeping them active

In Jammu and Kashmir, where the NGO runs two bear rescue centres in Dachigam and Pahalgam in collaboration with the Wildlife Protection Department, six Asiatic Black bears and two Himalayan brown bears are being taken care of.

WILDLIFESOS

"Dietary modifications are not the only changes seen in the bears' management and it is supplemented by measures to keep them shielded externally. To increase their movement, we occasionally hide the apples in the bears' enclosures which makes their time more playful. When it comes to keeping them warm physically, the staff use plenty of hay and dry grass," Aaliya Mir, Education Officer and Programme Head- Jammu and Kashmir, Wildlife SOS, said.

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