A male sloth bear named Vasikaran, or Vasi, from the Bannerghatta Bear Rescue Centre, has become the first rescued sloth bear in the world to be fitted with a prosthetic leg.
Vasi was rescued from Ballari district in 2019 after a snare trap injury led to the amputation of his hind leg. Since then, he had adapted to moving on three legs at the rescue centre.
In January, prosthetics specialist Derrick Campana, in collaboration with conservation NGO Wildlife SOS, successfully designed and fitted a custom prosthetic limb for the bear.
“Over several days, Campana created a limb durable enough to withstand Vasi’s natural behaviours such as digging, climbing, and foraging,” Wildlife SOS said, adding that the three-day process involved molding, testing, and fine adjustments.
The NGO noted that the prosthetic has given the bear new mobility and comfort: “He now moves with ease, free from the pain and strain he once endured.”
Campana described the project as a unique challenge: “Every animal I work with teaches me something, but Vasi’s case was extraordinary. Designing a prosthetic for a sloth bear was unlike anything else. Watching him take those first steps made it all worthwhile.”
Wildlife SOS called the achievement a global milestone in animal prosthetics and biomechanics, while also stressing the ongoing threat of poaching and the need for stronger protection of sloth bears in India.
A.V. Surya Sen, Executive Director of Bannerghatta Biological Park, said, “This collaboration shows how science, innovation and compassion can transform animal welfare. The prosthetic is a remarkable example of solutions that restore dignity and comfort to rescued wildlife.”