Response From Steve Stringham
RE: Indian man jailed for keeping sloth bear as pet
Hello Jeff,
I would never condone anyone killing a mother bear to
get her cubs, whether for research, companionship or sale. However, once
a cub is orphaned, raising it with affection and constant social
interaction is far more "humane" -- or should we say "ursane" or just
plain "sane" -- then condemning it to a zoo. Speaking as someone who has
wild-raised orphaned cubs and helped them become self-sufficient in the
wild, I can only wish that had been the fate of this sloth bear -- a
species all to rare in the wild.
Ideally, it should be turned over to one of India's
sloth bear researchers who could have mentored it like I mentored my
cubs and as Ben Kilham and Charlie Russell mentored theirs. (The family
who raised the cub might be employed on the project.) This is a rare
opportunity to learn a great deal about sloth bears that could benefit
the relatively small number still surviving in the wilds. If any of you
know the name of a sloth bear researcher, please pass this message
along. Meanwhile, I will dig through my own files and try to find a few
contacts.
Steve Stringham, Director
Bear Communication & CoExistence Research Program
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