In a quiet corner of the Wildlife SOS Agra Bear Rescue Facility (ABRF), where the air is rich with the scent of blooming flora, the ground hums with the soft rustling of leaves, and the distant murmur of a flowing river adds to the tranquility, lives Mubeen, a remarkable sloth bear with an indomitable spirit.
Mubeen was nearly four years old when she was rescued from Andhra Pradesh in 2008. When she arrived at ABRF, she was suffering from severe eye infections in both eyes, with mucopurulent discharge indicating a painful struggle with keratitis and conjunctivitis. While initial treatment managed these infections, her vision never fully recovered. Over time, Mubeen developed a senile cataracts in both her eyes, while the left eye bears a corneal scar, supposedly from an old incident of trauma.
Caregivers describe Mubeen as being a gentle bear as she has always been cooperative during her medical treatments and responds to their affection. Now at 21 years of age, Mubeen receives geriatric care which ensures she spends her days in comfort. She finds solace in her favourite resting spot — a comfortable pit beneath a wooden platform, where she curls up for long, peaceful naps.
Despite partially losing her eyesight, Mubeen’s strong will to thrive remains unwavering. Surrounded by fellow blind bears under our care, Mubeen’s enclosure has been thoughtfully designed to cater to her needs. This makes her feel confident as she navigates her field. With clean and levelled ground beneath her paws and the reassuring presence of her enclosure mates, Mubeen moves without any physical restraint. Understanding the sensitive needs of visually impaired bears, the Wildlife SOS team took special measures to make Mubeen’s enrichments as well as feeding points safe and easy to access as well.
Active and friendly Mubeen has formed amazing companionships with her enclosure mates Maqbool, Jamalbi, Sulthanbi, and most recently, Ansar. She enjoys the quiet companionship of Ansar, who has now become her closest friend.
One of Mubeen’s favourite pastimes is digging, and her curved claws effortlessly break into the earth as she searches for termites. She immerses herself into digging around trees to uncover the hidden treasure of termites and insects that lie beneath.
Veterinary teams at our care centres prescribe expert care to visually challenged sloth bears that include eye drops, pain relief medication, nutrient-rich diets and multivitamins. Mubeen’s nourishing porridge meals are supplemented with Vitamin A, E, C, zinc, and omega-3 fatty acids that help to slow down the progression of her cataracts.
Mubeen undergoes target training sessions, during which she is guided to respond to gentle prompts that enables our team to provide her with safe medical care. The star participant excels during this time, and is rewarded yummy treats that serve as positive reinforcements. Her caregivers are well aware that Mubeen has a sweet tooth! She delightfully laps up dollops of honey, chunks of coconut and delectable dates she receives.
Using her keen sense of smell, Mubeen explores her surroundings to locate the enrichments that her caregivers have specifically designed to suit her needs. Unlike the more complex structures for other bears, enrichments for Mubeen are simpler to tackle and are kept at a lower height, allowing her to access them safely. She enjoys climbing on the wooden platform and taking a long rest on it. Often, she can be seen carrying her enrichment ball with her and basking in the warmth of the sun along with it! Mubeen rarely ventures into the pond in her enclosure, but has been seen softly touching the water with her front paws.
Mubeen’s bright spirit is a powerful reminder of the resilience of wildlife. Though her vision compromises her ability to see clearly, the wise bear has a spectacular clarity of what brings her most joy. The dedicated care of Wildlife SOS’s team has proved that with compassion and understanding, every bear, regardless of their condition, can lead a life filled with comfort, safety, and love.
You too can support Mubeen and her bear companions by making a donation towards their care and well-being.
Feature image: Atharva Pacharne/ Wildlife SOS
