White bear attacks a villager in Pendra, survived injuries
Human-Wildlife conflict in Pendra
Pendra | Correspondent: In a recent case of Human-wildlife conflict in the Pendra region of Chhattisgarh, a white bear that had entered the residential area attacked a villager early on Monday morning.
The incident took place in the Amadaand and Basantpur area, where the wild animal was spotted roaming.
According to the villagers, it was around five in the morning when the bear reached near the Amadand school. Victim Kailash Kumar Kasipuri was outside his home when wild attcaked over him.
Kailash sustained deep wounds on his left arm in the attack. The bear also chased away several other passersby, prompting people to flee toward safe locations to escape.
Upon receiving information about the incident, a team from the Forest Department, led by Deputy Ranger Banjara, immediately rushed to the scene. While bringing the situation under control, the team promptly admitted the injured villager to a nearby hospital in Pendra, where he is currently undergoing treatment.
Meanwhile, news of the rare white bear's arrival spread like wildfire, and a large crowd of onlookers gathered to catch a glimpse of the animal, further complicating the challenges faced by the forest personnel. The local public has expressed significant outrage against the Forest Department regarding this incident.
Villagers allege that rampant deforestation and persistent forest fires are the primary reasons why wild animals are straying into human settlements.
Residents have demanded that wildlife protection measures be strengthened, forest fires be brought under control, and patrolling in the villages be increased to prevent the recurrence of such incidents.
Separately, a herd of four elephants has crossed the border from the neighboring state of Madhya Pradesh (specifically the Jaithari area) and entered the Marwahi Forest Range.
These elephants have wreaked havoc in the rural areas of Seoni and Patharri, causing extensive damage to farmers' crops and leaving the farming community deeply terrified.
In light of the elephants' arrival, the Forest Department has gone on high alert and is continuously monitoring their movements. The department has alerted villagers in the affected areas by making public announcements accompanied by drumbeats. Villagers, particularly those venturing into the forest for Tendu leaf collection, have been strictly advised not to go alone into secluded areas and to maintain a safe distance from the elephants.
