[ Bengia Ajum ]
SEIJOSA, 17 Nov: For the first time, the Centre for Bear Rehabilitation and Conservation (CBRC), located in the Pakke Tiger Reserve (PTR) in Pakke Kessang district, has successfully raised three rescued leopard cat cubs and initiated the process to release them back into the wild. The cubs were rescued from Chambang in Kra Daadi district on June 25 this year and were initially handed over to the authorities at Itanagar Zoo by local villagers.
A few days later, the zoo authorities handed over the cubs to the Wildlife Trust of India (WTI) and Pakke Wildlife Sanctuary for further rehabilitation. CBRC, renowned for its work in rescuing Asiatic black bears, began raising the leopard cat cubs.
When the cubs arrived at the CBRC, they were very small and weak. The staff at the center hand-raised them for four months before transferring them to Pakke Tiger Reserve for acclimatization and soft release. The cubs will now undergo a three-month acclimatization period at the release site, in line with the soft-release protocol for small cats developed by the Wildlife Trust of India. After this period, they will be released into the wild.
The cubs received necessary medical treatment and care at the center to improve their health. The PTR authority, in collaboration with WTI, has been rescuing wild animals in distress for over two decades, with a strong focus on returning them to their natural habitat. Raising and rehabilitating leopard cat cubs in PTR is a first, as no similar effort has been made before. This marks the first time that PTR and CBRC will rehabilitate small wild cats, following the specific protocol for small cats.
“We hope they can adapt to the forest and fend for themselves in their natural habitat,” said Dr. Arandhara, Ecologist at the Wildlife Trust of India.
Satyaprakash Singh, the DFO and Field Director of Pakke Tiger Reserve, stated that the successful rescue and rehabilitation of the leopard cat cubs exemplifies the essence of conservation and the commitment to restoring these animals to their natural home. “Pakke Tiger Reserve is proud to pioneer such efforts, ensuring that even the smallest wild cats have a chance to thrive in the wild,” he said.
