A sloth bear rescued from the cruelty of India's dancing trade and later given a name by Julia Roberts is thriving nearly two decades later, according to International Animal Rescue. New photographs of the bear, named Odum, were released ahead of World Sloth Bear Day on October 12 to illustrate both his transformation and the sustained effort each rescue requires.
Odum was rescued in 2009 from handlers who forced him to perform for tourists and kept him confined to a cage the rest of the time. That same year, Roberts was in India filming Eat, Pray, Love when she visited the animal sanctuary and named the bear. According to the source material, the name Odum is believed to be an old family name.
Now 26 years old, Odum resides at the Bannerghatta Bear Rescue Centre in India, which operates within Wildlife SOS's rescue network. Staff described his current life in a statement, saying, "Seventeen years on from his rescue, Odum's days are calm, perhaps eating a ripe muskmelon, taking a splash in his pool or having a doze in his hammock, which has been specially made for him."
Alan Knight, president of International Animal Rescue, emphasized that the organization's duty extends well beyond the initial rescue. "Odum's story illustrates the beautiful outcome that rescue operations can achieve," he said in a statement. "Our responsibility does not cease when an animal has reached safety. As he gets older, he will still require the same amount of patience, kindness and specialized care as was necessary to help him recover all those years ago."
The charity is directing supporters to the Indian charity's website to help fund Odum's ongoing care. World Sloth Bear Day, observed on October 12, highlights the species and the long-term rehabilitation work carried out by sanctuaries such as the Bannerghatta Bear Rescue Centre.