An operation by the Forest department on Tuesday to tranquilise a straying bear in human habitats at Tharuvana near Mananthavady under the North Wayanad Forest Division has turned futile.
The animal triggered panic among residents of Kunnummalangadi, Paliyana, and Karingari near Thruvana on Tuesday morning after they sighted the animal in a paddy field.
The animal had been sighted in a human habitat at Ondayanagady near Mananthavady two days ago. It was reported that it consumed coconut oil and sugar after it broke open the kitchen door of St. Sebastian’s Church at Kommayad on Monday night.
“Though our veterinary team had fired a tranquilliser shot at the animal in a paddy field around 5 p.m. on Tuesday, it went in vain as it did not hit the fast-moving animal,” North Wayanad Divisional Forest Officer Martin Lowell told The Hindu. Later, it entered a coffee plantation with thick undergrowth.
The operation started around 8 a.m. and concluded around 6 p.m. Close to 70 frontline forest staff mobilised from South and North Wayanad forest divisions, a team of veterinary experts, and members of the rapid response team of the Forest department took part in the operation.
