Pug marks of sloth bears create panic in Coonoor

Udhagamandalam: Tension gripped Tiger Hill area in Coonoor in the Nilgiris as the news spread about a pair of sloth bears straying into a temple in TANTEA quarters area in the locality and causing damage.
Pug marks of the animals were found inside a temple besides their excreta. A week ago, residents reported the issue to forest officials, but no action has been taken.
On Monday morning, residents of TANTEA quarters in Tiger Hill found their temple door broken open and a few wares damaged. "We found pug marks of the animals inside the temple and excreta," said residents. They added, "We had been noticing signs of bear movement in our area and informed the forest officials. But no action was taken."
"It is really very scary to take a walk around our locality as it is a dense tea estate area. Children have to go to school and we have to work inside the estate and hence we need protection from the sloth bears," said the residents. On Monday, parents accompanied their wards to schools.
"We inspected the tiger Hills area today (Monday). We found pug marks and excreta of sloth bear inside the temple there," said a forest official, adding, "A cage will be kept in the area to capture the bears. A team of forest staff have been deputed to monitor the area