Sloth bears are found in India, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Bhutan but shrinking habitats and rampant poaching have reduced their numbers
© Manpreet RomanaSloth bears are found in India, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Bhutan but shrinking habitats and rampant poaching have reduced their numbers
At least four people have been mauled by a female sloth bear in Ashti range of Wardha. The attacks have been taking place since last two months.

All the attacks were on farmers and took place mostly when they were working in the farms. Forest officials informed that in the initial two attacks, farmers sustained serious injuries and were shifted to Government Medical College and Hospital (GMCH). The last attack happened about three days back. Officials said that so far, there have been no deaths.

The same female bear is being sighted regularly with two cubs on the fringes of Manikawada and Moi villages. "Maximum attacks took place on the boundary of farms and forest. While patrolling their farms, farmers mistook the bear as wild boar or some other animal and tried to chase it away. The mother bear instinctively attacked to protect its cubs," officials said.

Deputy Conservator of Forests (DyCF) DW Pagar said that two searching teams and one tranquilizing team are scanning the areas for the bear. "We have taken permission from principal chief conservator of forests for tranquilizing the bear. A team of SRPF has been patrolling the area since last month but could not catch it. Villagers are also helping in the search operation but it is difficult to spot the animal in rains," Pagar added.

Forest officials have laid out 'dos' and dont's for the villagers. "They have been told not to step out at night and dawn and make noise from a stick or something else while walking," said Pagar. He added that the injured farmers have been asked to submit their medical reports on the basis of which department will provide them compensation.

A few months back, a different bear had entered nearby Karanja village. Presence of sloth bears in villages which are on the periphery of forests have become common. In November 2015, a sloth bear had delivered two cubs in an abandoned house at Aategaon village in Sakoli taluka. Later, another sloth bear gave birth to two cubs in an isolated cave like place at Nerodi, 10 kilometres from Bhandara. Experts warn that during such incidents, proper implementation of Standard Operating Procedure for sloth bear should be ensured.