Himalayan black bear attacks Mcleodganj woman; panic among locals

Tribune News Service
Dharamsala, May 23

A Himalayan black bear reportedly attacked a woman on Jogibara road, Mcleodganj, on early Sunday morning. She was seriously injured. 

Sources revealed that this was the second attack of a Himalayan black bear in Mcleodganj.

DFO Dharamsala, Dr Sanjeev, Kumar said that he received information regarding the bear attack in Mcleodganj on Sunday. It was found, that the rag-picker had gone into tree plantations on the Jogibara area, and was attacked by the black bear.

Initially, the woman was taken to Delek hospital of the Tibetan government in exile, and then to another hospital by her kin. The forest officials are looking for the woman since she had to be compensated for the injury by the Himalayan Black bear, he said.

The DFO revealed that the attack of the Himalayan Black Bear in summers near habitations was a rare incident. Generally, the bears migrate to lower areas in winters when food gets scarce in higher hills. 

However, it seems that due to lockdown, and reduced movement of people is attracting black bears near habitations. The area, where the bear attacked the woman, was used by locals to dump food waste. 

The team of forest officials was trying to spot the bear which attacked the woman, the DFO said.

The two bear attacks in the Mcleodganj areas has caused panic among the residents.

Rakesh Kumar—a resident of the area—said, that it was “scary that Himalayan Black bears were attacking people so near to habitation”.