If you happen to visit the Bannerghatta Bear Rescue Centre (BBRC), it is highly likely that you would be able to hear loud sounds of slurping. Our team would then prompt the curious you to pause and look up. On one of the branches of the many trees, you may spot a sloth bear engrossed in licking peanut butter off a hanging ball. And in all likelihood, this particular ursine would be Hamsi, a 13-year-old who not only has an exceptional liking for peanut butter, but can also skillfully scale a tree to reach for it!
Hamsi: A Victim of Human-Animal Conflict
Hamsi arrived at BBRC in 2015, after she was found with a gunshot wound on her left shoulder in a village in Bandipur, Karnataka. The grave impact of the bullet made the then four-year-old incapable of foraging, forcing her to enter areas where food could be acquired easily. A victim of human-wildlife conflict, Hamsi was in dire need of medical assistance when the Wildlife SOS team came to her aid.
After surgery that lasted a day, and treatments that consistently went on for a year, Hamsi began to show mighty progress in her health. Physiotherapy sessions were added to her regimen to provide relief from the pain she was suffering from. While the bullet injury on her joint compromised her gait, it could not diffuse Hamsi’s liveliness. She began to gleefully unveil her playful side, and showed her agility while climbing the trees in her field.
The Healing Journey
During her initial days at the centre, Hamsi’s movement was limited to either low-hanging enrichments or around her hammock. But gradually, Hamsi showcased her expertise in climbing trees, and could also comfortably reach enrichments installed for her at a height.
Wild sloth bears are primarily myrmecophagous, which means they feed on a host of insects. While Hamsi uses her long claws to extract termites and ants out from her field at BBRC, she has a weakness for honey and peanut butter, and would never pass up the opportunity to feast on these delicious treats available to her!
The alert and active Hamsi is also being given multivitamins and mineral supplements regularly to support her wellbeing. These tablets are crushed and added to her morning and evening nutritious meals of porridge. The porridge is slathered with honey to mask any scent of the tablets, so that Hamsi consumes them with ease.
Honey enters another important aspect of Hamsi’s daily routine — the target training session. Target training helps rescued bears at our facility to respond to cues for presenting paws or opening the mouth so that medical examinations can be conducted without any stress to the animal. Hamsi can be seen cooperating well during these sessions! A squeeze bottle of honey, along with freshly chopped coconuts and dates, keep her highly motivated during these sessions.
New Enclosure, New Chapter
Hamsi was recently relocated to an enclosure with ample space for exploration. Here, with her new enclosure-mate Anandi, the duo can dig the field to their hearts’ content! The two can be seen engaging with enrichments that are filled with dates and coated with honey and peanut butter. Their caregivers, aware of their weakness for sweet delights, make sure they have access to abundant watermelons, sugarcane and muskmelons.
Each day brings with it hours that the two spend in each other’s joyful company, as well as moments that are best enjoyed solo. Both sink into a deep afternoon sleep around Hamsi’s favourite hammock, or relax around the same tree! While Hamsi eyes the highest branch to doze off on, Anandi chooses to rest on the ground against its trunk.
As the golden hue of sunset takes over, Hamsi descends from her vantage point and heads towards the awaited evening meal. But before that, she certainly takes a detour to meet Anandi once again!
Hamsi has shown tremendous resilience after a sudden and traumatic incident changed the course of her life. She is a survivor of a bullet wound, and has demonstrated a will to overcome every physical challenge with vivacity. The bond between enthusiastic Hamsi and the calm Anandi continues to grow stronger by the day, and has been overwhelming to witness.
While the medical team keeps a close watch on her physical health, Hamsi’s social and amicable nature has led her to form dear friendships, and develop faith in her safe and secure environment. The last nine years of caring for Hamsi has reinstated our belief in how sensitivity and compassion can play a significant role in the lives of rescued animals. We continue to nurture her with care, love, and a variety of enrichments in her new enclosure. You too can take a supportive step towards Hamsi’s welfare by becoming a monthly donor at Wildlife SOS.
