AALO, Oct 25: Luba, the she bear was barely a month old when Terde Yomcha first laid eyes on her. Over the next nine months, he reared her lovingly and spent his entire school stipend on the cub with even his parents pitching in.
October 23 was an emotional day for the duo as they had to part ways. Nine-month-old Luba was formally handed over to the Aalo Forest Division which in turn handed it over to the State Zoo Itanagar as it
was rejected by the Wildlife Department reason being that Luba was reared in a homely environment and had imbibed domesticat traits that may hinder her survival in the wild.
Unlike other wild bears, Luba is purely brought up as a vegetarian diet preferring dal-bhaat, vegetables, liquid milk, fruit juices and bathing and playing in a tub of  water on a hot sunny day.
Terde, who had purchased the cub for Rupees 1000 decided to handover the bear to authorities as he was going to study at a college in Itanagar and this would ensure his emotional attachment with Luba continues.
He carried the bear all the way from Yomcha to Aalo on his lap in a taxi for the handing over but had to miss the ceremony due to pressing work.
The weeklong stay at Aalo was a source of amusement for the locals as they thronged to see Luba dancing wearing a girl's frock, bathing in water tub, playing with kids; half of the feeding was met by onlookers who came with milk and cold drinks, which Luba received gladly with her outstretched hands. On intimation, DFO of the Aalo Forest Division, Jumdo Geiyi and his team responded promptly and kept in constant touch with the Directorate of State Zoo to take the bear over and ultimately Dr.Sorang Tadap VO, Biological Park, Itanagar and Dr. Ranjit Basumatary, Manager and Head CBRC, WTI, Pakke Tiger Reserve arrived at Aalo to take it in their custody. 

 "I have reared and lived with Luba like my own sister; I have not spared her to anyone even on being quoted high price. It pains me to part with her and I plead the Zoo authorities to take proper care of her and give me access to meet her sometimes," Terde said.
Terde has a knack for rearing wildlife and had earlier reared two birds, who followed him to school and to his tuition centre. DIPRO

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Kenter Joya Riba

(Managing Editor)
      She is a graduate in Science with post graduation in Sociology from University of Pune. She has been in the media industry for nearly a decade. Before turning to print business, she has been associated with radio and television.
Email: kenterjoyaz@easternsentinel.in / editoreasternsentinel@gmail.com
Phone: 0360-2212313

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