Sloth bears, renowned for their solitary nature, show profound social behaviour when cubs are with their mothers. After a gestation period of approximately seven months, mothers deliver their cubs into a world where they must learn how to survive. The initial two years of a cub’s life are therefore extremely crucial, because during this period, essential skills and wisdom on how to forage, be self-defensive, and navigate the wild are taught to them by their mother. Recognising the critical importance of this formative period, when Wildlife SOS received a distress call concerning a lone six-month-old sloth bear cub rescued from a human-wildlife conflict in Maharashtra, it became imperative for us to provide the little bear, later named Tulsi, with meticulous care.
Tulsi was nurtured and raised by our caregivers at the Bannerghatta Bear Rescue Centre (BBRC) in Bangalore. Torn from the wild and left orphaned at such a young and tender age, our team exercised utmost caution in her upbringing, and even moderated their interactions with her so that the cub felt unperturbed to nurture her innate instincts. To attain this, Tulsi had, and continues to have, access to numerous food-based and structural enrichments, engaging with which keeps the actions she would have used in the wild alive.
Today, at 13 years of age, Tulsi thrives at our centre, basking in its tranquillity and security. Fiercely confident and brimming with vitality, she has matured into an active bear with a natural penchant for solitude. Maintaining minimal interaction with fellow sloth bears in her enclosure, Tulsi has a tendency to assert her dominance, and she claims her own personal space. Indeed, her presence commands respect that is especially evident when younger bears like Shari and Suvarna clear the path for Tulsi as she approaches.
Always on the move, Tulsi can be seen traipsing round and about her enclosure for objects to interact with or munchies to eat. Some of her favourite enrichments to play with include wooden logs, enrichment balls, and puzzle feeders that are filled with tasty treats like honey, dates, and freshly chopped fruits.
In the wild, myrmecophagous sloth bears have a diverse diet, ranging from various insect species to an assortment of tubers, fruits, and roots found in their forest habitat. At BBRC, we strive to replicate this dietary diversity by incorporating a wide array of food groups into the sloth bears’ meals. Tulsi receives high-fibre and nutrient-rich porridge made from millets like ragi and jowar, alongside fresh seasonal fruits and vegetables. To supplement her diet, we also introduce mealworms that are packed with essential proteins and fats required by sloth bears. Spirited Tulsi relishes each bite of every meal she is given! Additionally, to ensure her nutritional needs are met, liver and mineral supplements along with multivitamins are incorporated in her intake.
Summer envelops Bangalore with its intense heat, which is why Tulsi can be seen lounging in a hammock beneath the cool canopy of a tree or finding respite in one of the water troughs within her enclosure.
Caring for a wild and rescued infant bear comes with its own set of challenges, chief among them being the inability to introduce them to their natural habitat due to their inadequate acquisition of survival skills. Thus, our responsibility is that under our long-term care, we do our best to provide a safe, healthy, and natural environment in which the bears can live comfortably.
If you want to help contribute to the well-being of such amazing beings, consider making a donation. Your contribution enables us to continue providing the highest level of care and attention these rescued bears deserve, so that they lead fulfilling lives despite the challenges they’ve faced.
