Bear, cub die of electrocution

Our Correspondent

Chamba, August 16

A female bear and her cub died due to electrocution after they came in contact with a transformer at Kathalag in Dalhousie late on Thursday.

Residents discovered the dead animals trapped on the transformer near the Municipal Council’s dumping site on Friday morning and informed the authorities.

On receiving the information, Municipal Council junior engineer Sanjeev Sharma, along with employees of the MC, Forest and Electricity departments reached the site.

With the help of the Electricity Department staff, the dead animals were removed from the transformer and shifted to Dalhousie Animal Hospital for examination.

Residents said the animals were probably searching for food near the dumping site when the cub climbed onto the transformer and was electrocuted. The mother bear, in an attempt to rescue her cub, also climbed onto the transformer and suffered the same fate.

Dalhousie Divisonal Forest Officer (DFO) Rajneesh Mahajan said the department took custody of the carcasses and cremated the animals after postmortem at Dalhousie Veterinary Hospital.

Officials said forests in the Dalhousie area are home to the Himalayan Black Bear, which quite often venture into human habitations in search of food, often leading to man-animal conflict.

Earlier this week, a female bear with its cubs was spotted at the Devi Dehra forest near Dalhousie, they added.