August 20, 2025: Two orphaned Asiatic black bear (Ursus thibetanus) cubs, rescued from Dissoi Reserve Forest in Jorhat on February 28, 2025, have successfully begun their new life in the wild with their soft-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, were discovered alone by a local youth in Morongial village, near Dissoi Valley Reserve Forest on the Assam-Nagaland border. 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.

The two cubs were hand-raised at CWRC | Photograph by Dr. Bhaskar Choudhury/WTI

Established in 2002, CWRC in Kaziranga is a joint initiative by the Assam Forest Department, the Wildlife Trust of India (WTI) and International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW). Here, the cubs were treated for mild dehydration and nurtured in the small mammal nursery under the close supervision of Dr. Bhaskar Choudhury, WTI’s Chief Veterinarian 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 process focused on ensuring proper nutrition, maintaining natural behaviours, and minimising human imprinting to secure their chances of successful reintegration.

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.

Earlier this week, the CWRC team successfully translocated the cubs to Dehing Patkai National Park, giving them a genuine chance to thrive in the wild.

The cubs at the soft-release site in Dehing Patkai National Park | Photograph by Subhasish Arandhara /WTI

The journey of these Asiatic black bear cubs—from their rescue to their care at CWRC and finally to their release in Dehing Patkai—stands as a powerful example of what science-driven rehabilitation, ethical wildlife management, and community involvement can achieve.