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Friday, Jun 18, 2010
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Sloth bear back after Maneka intervenes

The animal is now in the Agra Bear Sanctuary

Kathmandu: An Indian female sloth bear, which was confiscated from two Indian bear trainers here, has finally been sent back to India, thanks to the intervention of animal rights activist Maneka Gandhi.

The bear, Rubina, was taken back to India four days back, according to Mekh Bahadur Pandey, Deputy Director at the Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation.

Rubina was handed over to the Wildlife Trust of India, Mr. Pandey said. The Wildlife SOS team of India received her on June 13 and she is now in the Agra Bear Sanctuary.

The formalities and transit permits, as envisaged under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), had been fulfilled.

The legal documents and other related process to rescue Rubina were made possible only after Ms. Gandhi requested the Nepal government for the bear's early release, Nepalese media reported. The bear was found in the illegal possession of Ali Jaan alias Kalia and Nawab Ali at Harvastar village, which lies in a buffer zone in Nawalparasi district in southern Nepal. The bear was being trained by the duo from Shumshergunj in Uttar Pradesh for entertainment purposes.

According to a media report, some 180 sloth bears are brought annually to Nepal from India by professional bear trainers for commercial shows.

The National Parks and Wildlife Conservation Act 1973 has banned the possession of the sloth bear, which is included in CITES. — PTI

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