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Tuesday, 27 October 2026
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Rescued Sloth Bear Named by Julia Roberts Is Flourishing in India

A sloth bear rescued from the illegal dancing bear trade 17 years ago is now thriving at a sanctuary in India, according to an animal charity.

HEROIC BREAKING NEWS, written by our newsroom0 views

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Picture: Good News Network
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A sloth bear rescued from abuse in India 17 years ago is now flourishing, Good News Network reported. The Hollywood actress Julia Roberts named the bear Odum after visiting the animal sanctuary while filming Eat, Pray, Love in India in 2009. [1]

Before its rescue, the bear was forced to dance for tourists and was kept inside a cage when it was not performing, Good News Network reported. The rescue was carried out by an Indian charity dedicated to helping animals in distress. [1]

Wildlife SOS was founded in 1995 with the goal of rescuing and rehabilitating wildlife in distress while preserving the natural heritage of India. It has grown into one of the largest wildlife conservation organisations in South Asia. [3]

The name given to the bear by Roberts is believed to be an old family name, Good News Network reported. The charity confirmed that the animal continues to live safely and thrive at the sanctuary. [1]

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In short

  • A sloth bear saved 17 years ago from the dancing bear trade is flourishing at an Indian sanctuary.
  • Actress Julia Roberts named the rescued sloth bear Odum during a visit to India in 2009.
  • Prior to its rescue, the bear was kept in a cage and forced to perform for tourists.
  • Wildlife SOS was established in 1995 to rescue distressed wildlife across South Asia.

Sources

Every paragraph above points to the numbered items it rests on. Read the originals here.

  1. [1]Sloth Bear Named By Julia Roberts is Flourishing After Rescue From Dancing Trade in IndiaGood News Network, 16d ago (the report this story comes from)

Background

  1. [2]Ursid hybrid on Wikipedia
  2. [3]Wildlife SOS on Wikipedia
  3. [4]Frederick Roberts, 1st Earl Roberts on Wikipedia

Our newsroom writes these reports with the help of software, from the 4 sources listed and nothing else, and checks them against those sources. Facts can still be wrong or move on; the originals are the record. Spotted a mistake? Write to daniel@monsterkong.com.

Earlier reports of ours on the same people and subjects.

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