Tamenglong Forest Division on Saturday organised a one-day awareness programme on forest protection with a special focus on bear conservation at Phelong village under Tousem Range in Tamenglong district.

The event was attended by Joel Gangmei, Range Forest Officer (RFO) Tamenglong; A. Promeshwor Singh, RFO Tousem; Meiruthai Panmei, Member of the Manipur Wildlife Board; and Withuing Inchangta, Secretary of Phelong Village Authority, who served as resource persons and presidium members. Around sixty villagers from Phelong actively participated in the programme.

The key objective of the awareness campaign was to educate the public about the bear species found in India, particularly the Himalayan Black Bear, their ecological significance, and the various threats they face in the wild.

The speakers highlighted the importance of establishing facilities for the rescue, care, and rehabilitation of orphaned or injured bears, with the long-term goal of releasing them back into their natural habitats. They also emphasised community engagement in wildlife conservation by encouraging local residents to become “Bear Guardians” and adopt responsible practices for peaceful human-bear coexistence.

Notably, several incidents of orphaned bear cubs have been reported from villages in Tamenglong district. In a recent case, two three-month-old Himalayan Black Bear cubs were rescued from Kadi village by the Deputy Commissioner of Tamenglong, Angshim Dangshwa, IAS. The cubs were later handed over by Divisional Forest Officer Kharibam Hitler Singh and RFO Joel Gangmei to the Manipur Zoological Gardens, Iroishemba, on June 29, 2025. The cubs were received by Dr. L. Saratchandra Singh, Veterinary Officer at the zoo.

The Himalayan Black Bear (Ursus thibetanus laniger) is a protected species listed under Schedule I of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, making its conservation a matter of critical importance.