Forest dept rescue 2nd sloth bear in two days

Forest department officials and wildlife SOS from Bannerghatta have rescued a second sloth bear in two days, as they freed a 10-month-old male cub from a poacher's snare.

The animal, found on the outskirts of Gangadharan gudde, near Vittalapura village, struggled to free its forelimb when the rescue team reached the spot. The bear was given medical aid before being released into its habitat. The same team rescued a bear in Kanakapura on Monday.

The cub had accidentally walked into a barbed wire fence at a coconut plantation in Vittalapura . It was immobilized before the trap was removed.

Besides cuts and bruises on its left fore-limb, the bear was also bleeding from the mouth as he gnawed on the barbed wire. The animal was kept under observation for a few hours after the treatment, said Wildlife SOS' director of veterinary operations Dr Arun A Sha.

Chikkanayakahalli Range Forest Officer Laxminarayanappa said authorities would create awareness among local villagers to co-exist with wildlife from the neighbouring forest area.