Nepal authorities rule out returning rescued sloth bear to India citing unverified nationality

Wildlife authorities in Nepal have ruled against returning a rescued sloth bear to its home in India, citing the animal's unverified nationality.

Animal rights centre Sneha's Care rescued Dhutharu, the one-year-old sloth bear, from an animal tamer in Nepal's southeatern Siraha district six month ago.

Speaking to PTI, activist Sneha Shrestha said, "After reading on the newspaper that a little bear (Dhutharu) was being made to perform tricks for his trapper, I decided to go with my team to Siraha to rescue the animal from torture."
However, Chief of the Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation Gopal Prakash Bhattarai said, "In the Rangila case (2018), the rescuers had documents that showed the bear came to the Nepali side from India. In Dhutharu's case they do not have any such evidence. Hence, we do not entertain requests for repatriation."
"The ultimate goal of a progressive sanctuary is rehabilitation and returning the animal to a healthy state of being."