Cages installed to capture bears straying into human settlements in Malla village

PIONEER EDGE NEWS SERVICE/ Bhatwari

The Forest department has finally taken concrete steps to address bear movement and attacks occurring frequently in villages under Bhatwari development block of Uttarkashi district

Following intervention from the former Gangotri MLA, Vijaypal Sajwan, cages have been installed in Malla Dang village to capture the bears.

Concerned over increasing bear activity and the rising fear among villagers, Sajwan had recently demanded immediate and effective action from the Forest department. He had urged the department to install cages, intensify regular patrolling and ensure safety of locals.

Taking the demand seriously, the Forest department acted promptly and installed cages in Malla Dang village to safely capture the bears. Notably, a recent incident from the same village, where a female bear was seen roaming in a residential area with her cubs, had been captured on CCTV. The footage had gone viral, accentuating fear among villagers.

According to the Forest department officers, patrolling in the area has been significantly increased with Forest personnel maintaining round-the-clock surveillance. Villagers have also been advised to immediately inform the department about any wildlife-related incidents so that prompt action could be taken, a forest officer said.

A local, Prabhati Rana looked satisfied with the foresters’ initiative, saying that the villagers who had been living under constant fear were now feeling a little relieved. “We hope that the Forest department will initiate further steps to save us permanently from the wildlife attacks, particularly from bears,” she added.  

The Forest officers stated that the bears would be captured safely and then relocated away from human settlements, ensuring both public safety and wildlife conservation.