Why in News ?

Authorities of the Nandankanan Zoological Park (NZP) are concerned over the back-to-back deaths of two sloth bears at the park.

About the News

• A total of three bears have died in the Nandankanan Zoo since August 30. NZP is left with 14 bears.
• One of them was a Himalayan black bear.
• The average lifespan of a Himalayan black bear is estimated to be 30 years.
• The bear that died at Nandankanan was already 28 years old and the death was said to be age-related.
• But the deaths of two sloth bears is said to be a cause for worry.
• What was the concern of the authority ?
  • A male sloth bear named Debasish, which was rescued in 2013, died.
  • It was only seven years old.
  • It probably died due to irreversible neurological disorders.
  • Female sloth bear called Aarti died with similar symptoms, both multiple haemorrhages were detected in both bears.
  • Suspecting some kind of viral infection, the authorities have kept the bears in separate cells.

Sloth Bear

• The shaggy-coated sloth bear is native to India, Sri Lanka and Nepal.
  • Sloth bears have also been reported in Bangladesh and Bhutan.
• Sloth bears primarily eat termites and ants, and unlike other bear species, they routinely carry their cubs on their backs.
• Conservation Status :
  • Vulnerable
  • Appendix I in CITES listing
  • Schedule I of the Indian Wildlife Protection Act, 1972.
• First valid scientific description of this species was by George Shaw in 1791.

Source : The Hindu

Topic

GS III : Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation, environmental impact assessment

Current Affairs Compilation : 19 September 2020