Wild bears again struck and wounded two tribal men in forests of Teliamura in west Tripura. Doctors attending them at Agartala medical college hospital termed condition of one critical.
The incident occurred on Wednesday when Ostoram Reang, 28 and Yubaram Reang, 30, went inside forests in Hazrapara where they were attacked by wild bears. The injured men were later rescued by people from nearby villages and shifted to hospital.
Amid frequent attacks on population residing on edge of forests, state’s forest department is seeking support from the central government to conserve the black bears. “We have prepared the action plan for the state and awaiting fund from the central government”, Chief Wild Life Warden Dr A.K. Gupta told The Hindu on Thursday.
Dr Gupta who played key role in preparing the action plan which covers all aspects of bear conservation and welfare said it would ease ‘men – bear conflict’ in Tripura. “The central government has also released the national bear conservation and welfare action plan (NBCWAP)”, he added.
The principle project which was released by union ministry of environment and forest in November last year, envisages measures to be taken by the states for conservation and welfare of bears found at least in 25 states.
Dr A.K. Gupta informed that two species – Sloth and Himalayan – have distribution in reserved and unreserved forests of Tripura. When asked about their population he said they roughly number six hundred or more.
Five people sustained injuries in bear attacks in Teliamura area alone in three bear attacks over past one year. The attacks are mainly taking place during harvesting of Jhum – slash and burn cultivation practiced by indigenous tribals – when bears come out of their habitations for search of food.
