Lone Himalayan black bear at Almora zoo dies

Almora: Ramu, the only Himalayan black bear of

Almora

's Mrig Vihar Zoo died after a month-long illness late on Monday night. The 24-year-old male bear was being treated by veterinary officers -- Dr Kamal Durgapal and Dr Yogesh Sharma. When his condition worsened, a three-member team -- led by Dr Tarun Garg from Ranibagh's Wildlife Transit Rescue Centre -- was called to inspect the bear. However, Ramu couldn't be saved.“Ramu had a friendly nature, he would bond well with zoo staff and visitors who gave him food. He was never aggressive. He was brought as a cub in 1998 from the Himalayan region in Pithoragarh,” said forest officer

Devendra Kholia

.Mrig Vihar Zoo, a popular attraction in Almora, was opened in 1980 and currently has around 100 animals, most of them deer and leopards. Notably, Himalayan black bears are listed under the "vulnerable" category on the IUCN Red List. They are found in the Himalayan region of India, Bhutan, Nepal, China, and Pakistan.