LUNA
Year of arrival: 2026
Age at the time of arrival: Approximately 4–5 months old
Sex: Female
Personality traits: Curious, cautious, resilient
Facility: Van Vihar Bear Rescue Facility (VVBRF)
Favourite food: Watermelons, bananas and honey
Favourite activity: Enjoys slurping the honey on treats
Background: In 2026, the Madhya Pradesh Forest Department rescued a young female sloth bear cub from Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve after finding her abandoned and in a weak condition. Estimated to be just four to five months old, the cub was dehydrated, anaemic, underweight and unable to walk properly due to an injury to her left hindlimb. Recognising that she required specialised veterinary care and long-term rehabilitation, the forest department transferred her to Wildlife SOS’s Van Vihar Bear Rescue Facility in Bhopal.
LUNA’S STORY
The Madhya Pradesh Forest Department found a young sloth bear cub in a critical condition in the buffer zone of Bandhavgarh Tiger Zone. With no sight of the mother, the vulnerable infant was given initial support by the forest department till she was transported to Wildlife SOS for necessary treatments and long-term care. When the infant bear arrived at the Van Vihar Bear Rescue Facility, she was in a fragile state. She had an abrasion on the sole pad of her left hindlimb, which was accompanied by foot ulcerations, skin shedding and a missing fourth toenail. Further examinations revealed that she had fractures around her hip region, perhaps after falling from a height. Compounding these with dehydration, anaemia and being underweight further highlighted the challenges she had endured after being separated from her mother in the wild.
The sloth bear infant underwent a mandatory 20-day quarantine period, during which time the veterinary team closely monitored her health and focused on stabilising her condition. She had been dragging her feet, which was the likely cause behind her foot injuries. She was started on supportive treatment that included pain management medication, nutritional supplements and a carefully planned feeding regimen.
With age on her side, the cub has shown encouraging signs of healing. Although naturally wary of people, she is beginning to form a trusting bond with her caregiver, who brings to her lots of honey-laden treats!
In collaboration with our long-time partners, International Animal Rescue (IAR), we named the brave cub Luna as a tribute to the strength she showed through her darkest days. For years, IAR has stood alongside Wildlife SOS, playing an invaluable role in helping us rescue, rehabilitate, and care for countless bears like Luna.
