Wild Crusades

In this episode, a crew of wildlife filmmakers venture into the dense woodlands of Yala National Park, aiming to uncover the habits and lifestyle of the elusive sloth bear. They move through the park’s forested terrain, observing the bears’ movements, foraging patterns and social interactions, while documenting the animal’s behaviour for the camera. The team’s investigation focuses on how the sloth bear adapts to its environment, what it eats and how it interacts with other species. By following the bears’ daily routines, the filmmakers hope to shed light on this mysterious creature’s role within the park’s ecosystem and its place in the forest community.

A weak, sickly elephant calf was found abandoned just beyond the perimeter of a protected reserve, its condition signalling severe distress. The young animal, alone and vulnerable, had evidently been left to fend for itself after being separated from its herd. Its frail frame and visible signs of illness made the discovery all the more poignant for rescuers. The incident appears to be yet another illustration of the struggle for land that pits human development against elephant migration routes. This confrontation over space often leaves most vulnerable creatures, such as this calf, bearing the brunt of the clash, underscoring human‑elephant conflict's tragic toll. Such cases serve as reminders of the urgent need to address underlying causes of habitat encroachment.