Two orphaned Asiatic black bear cubs rescued from Jorhat earlier this year have been released into Dehing Patkai National Park after months of rehabilitation, officials said on Wednesday.

The cubs, discovered in the Dissoi Reserve Forest on February 26, 2025, were only a few weeks old and were handed over to forest authorities by a local youth after their mother went missing. They were shifted to the Centre for Wildlife Rehabilitation and Conservation (CWRC) near Kaziranga for medical care and nurturing.

At CWRC, the cubs were treated for dehydration and fed a special milk substitute. They were gradually trained in survival skills under the guidance of veterinarians, following protocols of the Centre for Bear Rehabilitation and Conservation (CBRC) in Arunachal Pradesh.

A scientific assessment identified Dehing Patkai National Park as the safest release site due to its dense vegetation, food resources, and low human disturbance. The Chief Wildlife Warden of Assam approved the release on June 4, 2025.

The cubs were translocated and soft-released into the park to start their independent life in the wild.

“This release demonstrates how science-based rehabilitation, ethical conservation, and community involvement can help restore wildlife to their natural habitats,” said Dr Sonali Ghosh, Field Director of Kaziranga National Park and Tiger Reserve.