Ooty: Strayed sloth bear trapped, released

Ooty: A sloth bear that had strayed out of its habitat posing a threat to the residents in hamlets around Vazhaithottam and Chokkanalli has been trapped. The four-year-old female sloth bear’s movements not only gave sleepless nights to residents but also kept forest officials on their toes. The bear finally gave in and walked into the cage set up at Vazhaithottam.

The animal had injuries on its body but were treated immediately, forest sources said. The

bear was shifted and released deep inside the jungles at Siriyooron Monday. The All Party Joint Action Committee and various other public forum are crying foul over the alleged interference of a Karnataka veterinarian in handling man- animal conflict issue in the Nilgiris.

Although NGOs are good in animal rescue, their activists were kept off this operation, forest sources said. However, there are whisperings about an alleged interference of a Karnataka based veterinarian in dealing with man-animal conflict issue in the Nilgiris.

J.B. Subramaniam, convener of the All party joint action committee (JAC) in Nilgiris, said though JAC has approached the Nilgiris district administration to evolve some workable mechanisms to tackle the rising man-animal conflict in Nilgiris, now, it is learnt that a veterinarian based in Karnataka and whose spouse is working in forest department in Coimbatore zone is said to be calling the shots in the forest department in Coimbatore circle. He is also said to be dictating terms to forest officials on which NGO to be present during the operations relating to man-animal conflict.

The government should take note of it and form a local committee under the district collector to formulate strategies to deal with man-animal conflict to avoid outside interference, he said. There is nothing wrong in seeking the help of skilled members of NGOs who are good in animal rescue activities, said Rajeshkumar James, secretary of Coonoor Citizens’ Forum.

“Foresters are good in subject but most of them are only theoretical. At the field level, there is a need for people who are skilled and experienced to deal with animals,” he said. Any delay in capturing the animal could be detrimental to life and property that would lead to law and order issues, he said.