“Thank You, Indian Army”: Soldiers Rescue ‘Bahadur’ — Himalayan Bear Cub Freed After Its Head Gets Stuck in Canister

High up in the frozen frontiers of Siachen, a moment of humanity unfolded when Indian Army soldiers came across a Himalayan brown bear struggling for its life — its head trapped inside a metal canister. What followed was a delicate, life-saving rescue that has once again captured the internet’s attention.

The old video, which resurfaced recently on social media, shows soldiers braving the extreme cold to free the distressed animal without causing it harm. Working patiently and with care, they managed to remove the tin container safely, an act that has drawn both applause and criticism online.

Reports suggest that the incident took place in November last year, around the same time another similar operation made headlines — when a Himalayan bear cub, affectionately named Bahadur, was found with a canister stuck tightly around its neck. Soldiers initially tried to remove it by hand but soon realized it could injure the cub. They then used tools to cut through the metal with utmost precision, ensuring Bahadur was freed safely.

Once the cub was rescued, the troops offered food to help it regain strength. Witnesses recalled how the young bear, calm and trusting, stayed near the soldiers for a while before disappearing back into the wild — a rare and heartwarming sight amid the stark silence of Siachen.

Indian army troops rescuing a Himalayan bear somewhere near their forward post🙌 pic.twitter.com/nntLEnn0se

— KiloMike2🇮🇳 (@TacticalKafir) November 24, 2024

The resurfaced clip was recently shared on X (formerly Twitter) by Indian Forest Service (IFS) officer Parveen Kaswan, who lauded the Army’s humane gesture, writing, “Such a beautiful moment — Indian Army soldiers rescuing a Himalayan brown bear in Siachen. Truly commendable work.” His post, punctuated with two salute emojis, quickly went viral, drawing thousands of reactions.

What a beautiful video. Indian Army soldiers saving life of a Himalayan Brown Bear in Siachin. Amazing work 🫡🫡 pic.twitter.com/oaxR7aOXLi

— Parveen Kaswan, IFS (@ParveenKaswan) November 3, 2025

However, not everyone shared the same sentiment. Retired IFS officer Susanta Nanda voiced concern over the environmental side of the story, stating, “Tin cans are nothing but litter. It’s not a sight of beauty — even Siachen now bears the mark of our waste.”

How did the bear get that can

— Kiku (@Kiku_1993) November 3, 2025

Echoing that worry, a user named Kiku commented, “How did the bear get that can in the first place?” Many others joined in, questioning the presence of metal waste in such a pristine and eco-sensitive area.

Oh f*uck… Siachen is not a tourist spot with floating population and the metal canister which has to be a part of their food supplies of the Army….

discipline is a major part of defense personal and this a pathetic job by the army in disposal of such dangerous items….

— Josh T K (@joshutk16) November 3, 2025

One social media user argued that Siachen isn’t a tourist zone and pointed fingers at military operations for improper waste management, writing, “That canister likely comes from army supplies. Discipline is supposed to be the Army’s strength, but this is careless disposal of dangerous material.”

A beautiful gesture by Indian army..Army personal everyday saving lives whatever situation in font of him,every soldier is full of courage,simplicity and dedication. If you see that condition is very critical and temperature is under minus circumstances but all comfort sidelines.

— Raghvendra Tomar (@soldiersam1574) November 3, 2025

On the other hand, several people stood by the Army, highlighting the compassion shown by the soldiers. One user posted, “An act of true kindness by the Indian Army. Even in freezing conditions, they put comfort aside to save a life. Every soldier embodies courage and selflessness.”