Bengaluru: Watch out before venturing out of your house between sunset and sunrise as sloth bears may be around! This is the message coming from forest department personnel in ‘bear infested’ villages in Tumakuru and adjoining districts in the wake of increased attacks on human beings.
Recently, two sloth bears were killed by angry villagers after they attacked people in Tumakuru district. A police sub-inspector and a couple of villagers were injured when they tried to shoo away a wild bear hiding in fields in a bid to escape from human habitats. Of late, the bear-man conflict has been on the rise leaving the forest department concerned.
Hilly terrain and forest-like areas are the preferred abode of bears. With a variety of fruits and vegetables available in fields the bears come regularly to feed on them. In fact, the bear-man conflict has been there for many decades but people have of late, been attacking the bears with sticks and sharp weapons, killing them before the arrival of department officials.
“It’s a dangerous trend. Humans and bears co-existed all these years. The situation is now going out of control. Sloth bears are shy of human beings and they attack people in self-defense. The sight of humans makes them flee the spot. They attack people if somebody tries to go near them or pelts stones at them”, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Wildlife) Ravi Ralph said.
He said Tumakuru and adjoining areas have a sizable number of bears. Of late, their movements have been restricted due to human presence in their domain as they feel threatened. They behave violently especially if cubs are with them. Once irritated, they attack with their sharp claws and maul people. The need of the hour is to take local people into confidence if bears have to survive in their territory.
Awareness campaign: Ralph said officials were visiting villages prone to bear attacks and asking people to be on the vigil before going to their fields after sunset or during early hours since bears are not visible in the dark. Handbills and pamphlets have been distributed in bear-infested areas as part of the campaign.
The department has also issued a general warning to people living in the fringes of Bannerghatta National Park following sighting of a tiger two days ago. Handbills have been distributed among all residents asking them to be careful during nights.
