By IANS
Agra : A bear cub, illegally kept in possession by a 'kalandar' (people who train bears to perform stunts) was recovered by forest officials in Uttar Pradesh's Azamgarh district.
"The Uttar Pradesh forest department with assistance from a non-governmental organisation (NGO) Wildlife SOS cracked down on the kalandar in the Gosai ki bazaar area of the district," Vasudha Mehta, in charge of the bear rescue centre here, said.
A person named Neyur was caught red handed in possession of the seven-month old cub, which is not in sound medical condition. Neyur was hiding with this cub shifting it through the states of Chattisgarh and Jharkand after procuring the animal from poachers in the Sambalpur district of Orissa.
The Wildlife SOS enforcement team – 'Forestwatch', on the trail of the bear for over six weeks finally got the static location of the offender when he reached Katash village in Azamgarh. They tipped off the forest department and the recovery was made.
The bear cub is presently under the care of a senior veterinary officer at the Lucknow zoo. According to Natraj of Wildlife SOS who examined the animal "The teeth of the bear cub have been knocked off and damaged".
This year, eight bear cubs have been rescued in different parts of Uttar Pradesh.