An Indian female sloth bear which was confiscated from Indian bear trainers in Nepal; was finally sent back to India at the intervention of animal rights activist Maneka Gandhi, the Press Trust of India (PTI) has reported.

The bear named Rubina, was taken back to India four days ago, according to an official at the department of national parks and wildlife conservation.

The bear was handed over to Wildlife Trust of India, after going through all the formalities, said Mekh Bahadur Pandey, deputy director at the department. Rubina was handed over to the Wildlife SOS team of India on June 13 and she is now in Agra Bear Sanctuary, he said.

The legal documents and other related process to rescue this female adult bear was made possible only when Gandhi intervened and requested Nepal government for her early release, Nepalese media reported.

All the convention on international trade in endangered species (CITES) formalities and transit permits were fulfilled while handing over the Indian bear to the animal rehabilitation centre of India, the official said.

The bear was found in illegal possession of the two people Ali Jaan alias Kalia and Nawab Ali in Harvastar village which lies in the buffer zone of CNP in Nawalparasi district in southern Nepal.

The bear was being trained by the two Indians hailing from Shumshergunj in Uttar Pradesh for entertainment purpose, a long cherished tradition of India.

According to a media report, annually some 180 sloth bears have been brought to Nepal from India by professional bear trainers for commercial shows.

National parks and wildlife conservation act 1973 has banned possession of sloth bear, which is included in CITES.