Amazing Rescuers Teach Orphaned Bear Cubs How to Bear! (PHOTOS)

Bears are the perfect balance between being beautiful and majestic and being irresistibly cute. But between people poaching them for their pelts, farming them for their body parts, and destroying their habitats, bears across the world are running out of time. Thankfully organizations like International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) work to rescue and rehabilitate bears and cubs in India.

The Pakke Tiger Reserve in Anurachal Pradesh, Inda is a safe haven for six bear cubs – and counting! At the reserve, these baby bears are learning all they need to know to survive in the wild. Since they don’t have their mothers, bear cubs rely on rescuers to teach them these lessons.

Each day, four of the bears are taken out to the nearby forest by members of the Center for Bear Rehabilitation and Conservation (CBRC) to exercise and become accustomed to their natural habitat. Think of it like taking a dog for a walk. But instead of playing fetch, these people are teaching these bears how to “bear”!

Yes, we know and agree! These little guys are totally fuzzy and adorable.

They’re also fearful and skittish without a mom. It takes alot of coaxing and neck rubs to make them trust their new handlers.

These cubs were saved at a very young age. A large part of reintroducing the bears is teaching them what plants they should eat like their mother would.

Handlers tempt them with fruit first, then feed them plants that grow naturally in the area.

Soon these little ones will be off foraging on their own!

These cubs will be “walked” for another three to four months before they are fitted with radio collars and released.

These bears bounced back from the brink of death thanks to the helping hands of CBRC handlers. So far, over 35 bears have been successfully released into the Pakke Tiger Sanctuary and the Mehao Wildlife Sanctuary.

These cubs could mark the beginning of a huge comeback for the local bear population. However, organizations like IFAW and the CBRC need Support from people like us if they are to succeed. Please visit their website and social media page to find out more about them. Alternatively, check out a few of our stories about bears around the world and the hardships they face. Remember, knowledge is power!

All image source: IFAW