The Agra Bear Rescue Facility is the largest Sloth Bear Rescue Facility in the world. Established in 1999 by Wildlife SOS in collaboration with the Uttar Pradesh Forest Department, it currently houses over 130 sloth bears as well as many other species of wildlife in large forested enclosures with ponds and shady trees. Agra Bear Rescue Facility undertakes advanced research, disease management and provides specialized veterinary care as well as geriatric care for sloth bears.
In Agra each rescued bear undergoes a 90-day quarantine period during which he or she is given a complete health checkup and treated for any diseases, wounds and parasites. The bear is vaccinated against Rabies, Leptospirosis and infectious canine hepatitis. After the quarantine period, the bears have access to large socialization enclosures where the behavior & personality of each bear is closely monitored by the Wildlife SOS vets & staff.
Based on each bear’s personality, he/she is matched to a group and then moved to a larger free-range area. Wildlife SOS has full-time wildlife veterinary doctors and a dedicated team of bear keepers to care for the rescued bears. The bear hospital is equipped with a laboratory in addition to essential equipment like X-ray, Ultrasound, Dental suite, Operation Theater and other equipment needed to meet any bear care need that may arise. A special cub weaning area of the bear sanctuary is dedicated to foster baby bears rescued from poachers as the cubs require a lot of careful attention during the early months.
The Agra Bear Rescue Facility runs with the long term commitment of our international partners IAR-UK, One Voice, France. We are extremely grateful to our individual donors and supporters.
History:
Wildlife Sos was formed back in 1995. A tiny group of people put their steps forward towards protecting the natural heritage, wildlife and forests of India and to conserve them. That small group has turned into an organization today that is completely evolved in the activities of conserving natural habitat for protecting wildlife, doing research works and learning biodiversity to find out ways for viable and alternative livelihoods for those communities of people who depend entirely on the Indian wildlife for nourishment. They are also famous for rescuing and protecting Asiatic black bear and a huge group of dancing bears (approximately 600 in count!) from the tribal people.
Actually, the bears are named so because the tribal nomadic and Kalandar people capture the bears from their natural habitat and train them to dance for earning money by using them as a way of street amusement. This has a route back in the time of the Mughals i.e. 400 years back in India. The in was the source of entertainment for the rulers. And, the tribal people are now using that method of entertainment as their living source.
How to Reach?
Wildlife Sos is situated inside the Sur Sarovar Bird Sanctuary of Keetam. So if you are driving from Delhi on the Delhi-Agra highway, you will reach here before entering Agra. It is 16 Km away from the ‘Taj Mahal’ city. After entering through the yellow gate of the bird sanctuary, you need to drive 2 km more to reach your destination.
Other ways, the Wildlife Sos offers online booking facility and pick and drop services from your stay at Agra.
