A female Himalayan brown bear, along with her two cubs, were spotted recently in the Rakchham-Chitkul Wildlife Sanctuary in district Kinnaur.
According to forest officials, brown bears had been sighted in this landscape earlier as well, but this time the officials succeeded in photographing the female bear with her cubs.
“The presence of cubs indicates that the sanctuary provides a healthy and suitable habitat for the species,” said Deputy Ranger Santosh Thakur.
Wildlife experts also highlighted the important ecological role played by the bear in maintaining Himalayan biodiversity, particularly through seed dispersal in high-altitude ecosystems.
Renowned Indian birdwatcher Gary Bhatti described the development as highly encouraging for the region. He said after the landscapes of Lahaul, the Rakchham-Chitkul area was emerging as one of the most important places in the state to observe Himalayan brown bears in the wild.
He further said such spectacular wildlife sightings hold immense potential for promoting eco-tourism in the region by attracting nature enthusiasts, birdwatchers and wildlife photographers from across the country and abroad.
