Forest officials rescue sloth bear from school in eastern India
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July 22, 2024
In a small village in eastern India’s Odisha, a female sloth bear has been causing concern for residents.
The incident took place in a primary school at Dahana in Nabarangpur district on July 16.
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Visuals showed how the sloth bear climbed trees, making it extremely difficult for the forest department officials to rescue the animal and put it into the vehicle for further transportation.
Speaking to Newslions Media, Divisional Forest Officer, Nabarangpur, Odisha Suvendu Behera for three months, the bear has been straying into the Dahana area of the Nandahandi block, creating disturbances.
School authorities discovered the bear around 10 a.m., promptly suspending classes and evacuating the campus to ensure the safety of the students. The headmaster alerted the local Forest staff, who arrived quickly to monitor the bear.
With the situation growing tense as curious onlookers gathered, the Nabarangpur Forest Division’s Rapid Response Team and a veterinarian from the Papadahandi Deer Park were dispatched to handle the situation. Initial attempts to capture the bear using nets proved unsuccessful as the animal climbed into nearby bamboo bushes and trees.
Ultimately, the team decided to tranquilize the bear. After a challenging effort, they successfully tranquilized and rescued the bear, later releasing it into a dense forest area far from human habitation. The swift and coordinated efforts of the Forest Division staff ensured the safety of both the bear and the local community.
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