If you ever visit our Agra Bear Rescue Facility (ABRF) and come across a sloth bear who just can’t sit still, that’s Elvis! At 11 years of age, Elvis is one of our most beloved and mischievous bears. His energy streak seems to have no full stop. One of the most amusing sights that our team has observed is when a caregiver climbs on the top of the enclosure den to carry out his cleaning routine. Elvis treats it like a race, and immediately scrambles up the nearest tree at lightning speed to see who can reach the highest point first.
To cater to his high energy, the caregivers have made a special routine for Elvis. Srinu Srikanta Maharana, a Senior Research Assistant with Wildlife SOS, has observed the enthusiasm in this very sloth bear and shares that “with so much adrenaline rushing through Elvis, we have to keep non-stop activities packed for him!”
His liveliness gets a boost first thing in the morning with a power-packed meal. His breakfast consists of nutritious porridge prepared with millets of the season. It is rare to find Elvis sitting idly or taking a nap once his tummy is full! He heads to tackle the enrichments, followed by exploring and roaming around the open field of the enclosure. This routine continues till the evening, which ensures he utilises all his energy throughout the day, guaranteeing a deep and peaceful sleep every night.
During summers in Agra, we implement our summer management programme to ensure the bears are comfortable at the centre. Elvis is well aware that hot weather can exhaust him, and so, he resorts to his covered den to take cosy naps. He also gets to enjoy the cool air that comes from the desert cooler placed beside his den. In the field, the sprinklers open up in the morning and evening and showers the ground, which lowers the temperature in the vicinity. And of course, there is a water pool too! He is a frequent visitor there, and happily beats the heat by splashing the water around with pure delight. He savours his favourite frozen treat too, a fruit popsicle, made of watermelon, honey and ice!
Looking at him now makes it hard to imagine the heartbreaking condition he was brought in. Elvis was just two months old when we rescued him. He was forcefully separated from his family by poachers, who were planning to illegally sell him in Nepal for the cruel practice of ‘dancing’ bears. His nose was brutally pierced with a red hot iron poker, and his teeth were shattered. He was extremely weak, dehydrated, and in need of urgent medical care. One can only imagine the toll that the separation trauma, and physical suffering, took on his mental health. During his initial days at the centre, he was so scared of everyone that he would just hide in a corner. This was a natural reaction by an animal who had associated humans directly with harm and pain.
We are lucky to have an amazing team of kind and gentle veterinarians and caregivers, who gave the young bear time and space to help him feel calm. Gradually, Elvis started trusting them. Now, Elvis and his caregiver Durgesh share a wonderful bond with each other at the centre. With years of care and warmth, it fills our heart to see Elvis leading a joyful life.
The team was quick to note how intelligent the bear is. This led to designing fun activities for him with various enrichments that not only keep him physically active, but also stimulate his cognitive skills, remarkable senses, and natural instincts. Generally, enrichments keep the bears engaged for long hours. But for Elvis, it is simply child’s play! He solves them in a jiffy. This makes it challenging for the caregivers to think of new enrichments for the next round. Knowing Elvis only too well, they make sure to prevent monotony with what he engages with and keep changing the enrichments in a timely manner. Elvis has shown a long-lasting and deep liking for the rotatable bar feeders and barrel feeders that are stuffed with hidden fruits and treats like dates. He also cherishes the swinging hammock made of recycled hose pipes that he repeatedly climbs into.
Elvis is a keen collector of wooden logs, and collects as many logs as he can from his field to play with. While his stamina keeps the team on their toes, they remain reassured of how happy and healthy he is at the home ABRF has provided to him.
You can be a part of cheerful Elvis’s journey by clicking on this link and sponsoring his care. Your contribution will help us continue providing the best for Elvis.
Feature image: Atharv Pacharne/ Wildlife SOS
