Pahalgam Rescue Centre

The Pahalgam Rescue Centre currently houses 2 Asiatic black bears and one Himalayan brown bear. The centre forms a part of the Overa Wildlife Sanctuary, spread over 32.27 square kilometres. Our main activity at the centre is the management and well-being of animals. It includes feeding, cleaning, provision of enrichments in the enclosures and most importantly, the health care of the rehabilitated bears. Apart from this, the staff of Wildlife SOS always finds opportunities to interact with the visitors to raise awareness on bears who unfortunately have suffered the most among other wild species due to the ongoing human-bear conflict in the state.

The Pahalgam Rescue Centre was established by the Jammu and Kashmir government, and Wildlife SOS has been responsible for the upkeep of the rescued/abandoned bears at the centre since 2007. The park also acts as a rehabilitation-cum-rescue centre for injured wild animals. Once recovered, the animals are released back into their natural habitat.

At the Dachigam and Pahalgam Bear Rescue Centres in J&K, the facilities are under the administration of the Wildlife Protection Department of Jammu and Kashmir. Correspondence with the Central Zoo Authority is undertaken by the relevant state authorities, while Wildlife SOS provides technical and operational support, including animal care, feeding and enrichment.