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A rare emotional union

BHUBANESWAR: It was perhaps a rare emotional reunion, which involved a man, a child and a sloth bear. And it finally took place inside a cage of Nandankanan Zoological Park here on Friday following a dramatic separation.

The story of Ram Singh Munda, who was jailed for “rescuing, sheltering and nurturing” the bear, Rani, and Munda’s little girl Gulki from Keonjhar district continued to evoke sympathy all round.

The father and girl came to zoo to reassure themselves if the bear that had been staying with them for 18 months was able to acclimatize with the new environment. Rani, the bear, recognised them easily and was seen cozying up to Munda.

Thirty-five-year-old Munda, a resident of Rutisila village under Ghatagaon block, was arrested on June 16 and lodged in Keonjhar jail for keeping the Rani. He was, however, released on bail on Monday.

Since the tribal had no ill intention for keeping the bear, his arrest triggered emotive reactions among general people and even among hardcore wildlife activists.

“I can tolerate the pain of separation with Rani (bear), but my daughter is missing her badly. Rani had been a member of our family for long,” Munda told reporters here.

He narrated the series of incidents that upset his ever-happy life near a forest in Keonjhar district.

“Rani was rescued when she was only 15-day-old. I took the responsibility of keeping the orphaned animal. And since then she became a part of our life,” Munda said.

He continued, “everything was going smoothly till a television channel flashed our pictures.

Subsequently, forest officials came and arrested me. While I was in jail my little daughter, who lost her mother earlier, stayed alone in the village.”

“Before keeping Rani, I had in fact informed the forest department officials, but they did not respond. Even forest department officials appeared to have no objection as they had come across us on numerous occasions,” Munda said.

Although no decision had been taken on rehabilitation of the sloth bear, there was no chance of giving the animal back to the Munda family.

Meanwhile, zoo officials said the bear was doing well. “We have not noticed any psychological trauma. She has been responding to food well from the day one,” zoo director Ajit Pattnaik said.

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