Wild bear with cubs scares villagers near Coonoor

COONOOR: A sloth bear moving with its two cubs amid tea gardens in Halakkarai village limits near Coonoor over the past two days has scared villagers. Foresters are on their toes to tackle the man-bear conflict.

It is a rare visual treat to see the adult bear carrying its two cubs on its back and strolling in and around the tea gardens in the serene environs around Halakkarai village. But there is a lurking danger as any wild mammal with its cubs around could turn furious at any point of time and attack human beings.

Residents there said that villagers use the road traversing the tea gardens around to commute to nearby Coonoor and Kotagiri towns. They want forest officials to make arrangements to capture the bear and its cubs and relocate them.

Mr.Saravanakumar, assistant conservator of Foresters, said that a forest posted in the area to monitor the situation will decide next course of action.