2nd bear intrusion in two mths rings alarm

Chandrapur: Yet another sloth bear was tranquillized and captured as it had intruded into thickly populated residential area of the city on Tuesday night. The second intrusion of sloth bear deep inside the city within two months reconfirms the fears that the man-animal conflict has hit Chandrapur. The six-hours-long rescue operation was carried out by joint teams of Chandrapur forest range, rapid response unit (RRU) and members of Eco-Pro organization.
RFO, Chandrapur range, Asish Hiwre, informed that the bear had a movement in Ayyapa Mandir locality in Tukum area of city for the last few days. The bear was again sighted late in the evening in open plot with thick foliage surrounded by residential flats and houses.
On getting information, forest teams reached the spot at 9 pm and evaluated the situation. “As bear was deep inside the residential area, any attempt to scare the beast and force it to run back into the forest was futile. Hence, we decided to tranquillize and capture the bear. Accordingly, the full grown sloth bear was shot with tranquillizing dart and was captured during wee hours,” he said.
Wildlife veterinary officer, TATR, Dr Ravikant Khobragade, and honorary wildlife warden, Bandu Dhotre, actively took part in the rescue operation. Sharp shooter of the RRU, Digambar Balki, shot the tranquillizing dart that sedated the beast. The bear was immediately put into a cage and moved to Rambagh forest nursery.
RFO Hiwre claimed that the captured female sloth bear appears to be one that was often seen in WCL Durgapur locality and was habitual to close human presence. Dr Khobragade carried out medical examination of the bear later on Wednesday and declared it fit. Hiwre claimed that the bear will be released back in the wild after seniors take a decision in that regard.
Female sloth bear, captured in Chanda on Tuesday night, appears to be one that was often seen in WCL Durgapur locality and was habituated to close human presence