A wild bear was rescued from Danayakapura village of Holehonnuru near Kalabhairaveshwara temple, by Bhadravathi forest officials on Wednesday. The bear was attracted to food leftovers at the temple.
Range Forest Officer Duggappa led the rescue effort and stated, “Wild bears travel miles for food. This bear likely sensed the temple’s offerings or lamp oil.”
Notably, a herd of wild bears from Lakkavalli forest range in Bhadravathi taluk is known to roam extensively, covering kilometers in their journey. While they generally avoid villages, there have been instances where they have appeared before people.
Experts warn that human-wildlife conflict is on the rise, with bears increasingly venturing into human habitats in search of easy food sources. “Bears have an excellent sense of smell and can detect food from great distances,”
To mitigate this issue, residents are advised to:
– Secure trash
– Avoid leaving food open
– Report bear sightings immediately
The rescued bear has been released into Lakkavalli forest range. Forest officials have urged locals to remain cautious and report any further sightings.
