Rescued bear accepts food in Nandankanan

Bhubaneswar, Jun 28 (UNI) A bear in captivity for more than 19 months started taking food normally without any hesitation after it was rescued and housed at the Nandankanan Zoo here.

Nandankanan Zoo Director Ajit Kumar Patnaik said the bear rescued from Keonjhor was sent to Nandankanan Zoo on June 20 last as per the instruction from the Chief Wildlife Warden, Orissa.

The animal was housed in the quarantine section of the Zoo as per the normal practice.

Prompt action was taken by the Zoo vets to do the routine examination of the animal to make an assessment of its stress level and the screening for the parasite and other infections.

Mr Pattnaik said the Zoo vets were bit apprehensive since whenever any captive bear is received in the park, it refuses food and remain off fed for days together.

He said a bear rescued from a Dhaba by Khruda Forest Division last year remained off fed for more than 15 days and started taking food gradually after lot of effort.

This was a common experience with the rescued bear in almost in 90 per cent cases, the Zoo Director said adding surprisingly the bear Rani rescued from Keonjhar started taking the food offered to her from the Zoo Kitchen normally without any hesitation.

The bear, Mr Patnaik said, is keeping a good health and found very active with no sign of stress.

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