Deep inside the forests of Madhya Pradesh, a five-month-old sloth bear cub was alone and badly hurt.

She was dehydrated, underweight and anemic. An injured hind leg made each step painful, and there was no mother nearby to protect her.

Forest officials found the young female in the buffer zone of Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve. The Madhya Pradesh State Forest Department rescued her and moved her into specialized care, according to Wildlife SOS.

The cub would soon receive a name.

Luna.

Wildlife SOS
A five-month-old sloth bear cub was found alone and badly injured.

Injured Sloth Bear Cub Luna Could Barely Walk

Luna was already severely weakened when rescuers reached her.

Veterinary examinations found an old hairline fracture near her left hip. The injury may have resulted from a fall in the wild, The Times of India reports.

A wound on her left paw, a damaged claw and an ulcerated foot pad added to her pain. The combination left Luna struggling to move.

For a young cub without her mother, those injuries carried serious consequences. She had no reliable way to escape danger or travel normally through the forest.

“When an injured cub is left alone in the wild, every passing hour is critical,” Wildlife SOS co-founder and CEO Kartick Satyanarayan told The Times of India.

Luna was transported to the Van Vihar Bear Rescue Facility in Bhopal for treatment.

Wildlife SOS
Luna could barely walk when forest officials discovered her.

Veterinarians Help Luna Heal and Regain Her Trust

At Van Vihar, Luna's medical team began regular treatment for her damaged paw and other injuries.

Her wound has been cleaned and dressed while she remains under close veterinary observation. A monitored diet is also helping address the effects of her poor condition.

The early signs are encouraging.

Luna is eating well. She is gaining weight. Her wounds are healing.

Her behavior is changing, too.

The naturally wary cub has begun developing trust in a caregiver who brings her honey-covered treats, according to Good Good Good.

That slow process can be important in wildlife medicine. Wildlife SOS explains that rescued bears may gradually learn to cooperate during examinations through gentle cues and food rewards.

“It is heartening to see Luna gradually regain her confidence and playful spirit,” Wildlife SOS co-founder Geeta Seshamani told Good Good Good.

Wildlife SOS
Luna had no mother nearby when she was discovered.

Luna Is Slowly Becoming a Playful Bear Cub Again

At five months old, Luna is still extremely young.

Sloth bear cubs can remain with their mothers for at least the first two years of life, according to Wildlife SOS. During that time, young bears learn skills that help them find food and respond to danger.

The circumstances of Luna's separation from her mother remain unclear.

For now, the focus is on her recovery.

Wildlife SOS
Luna has started eating well as her recovery continues.

Luna's paw continues to receive care. Her condition is stable, and veterinarians are watching her closely, The Times of India reports.

Whether she can eventually return to the wild has not yet been determined, according to Good Good Good.

But the cub who could barely walk is eating, gaining strength and beginning to play again.

For Luna, every small step now marks distance from the forest floor where rescuers first found her alone and fighting to survive.