Terde Youmcha who rescued a bear cub and took care of it for almost nine months had to hand over it to Arunachal Pradesh Forest Department. The bear cub named Luba will spend his entire lifetime at Itanagar Zoo.
The heartbroken Youmcha got a major relief as he will also be staying in Itanagar for his studies. He is happy that would be able to see his “sister” more often than he would have been able to if he was still in his native Aalo – some 300 km north of the state capital.
Terde Youmcha had bought the bear cub from an illegal wildlife trader when she was just a month old. The young boy used all his school stipend and the money given by his parents to look after the bear cub.
According to locals, Luba also became popular in the village and became friendly with all. He was an entertainer, who loved playing with children. Videos of Luba drinking milk in a yellow dress and playing with Terde Youmcha have also won the internet.
Locals added that unlike wild bears, Luba was brought up on a vegetarian diet, and she prefers pulses, rice, cabbage, maize, tomato, sugarcane, milk, and fruits.
