Sloth bear falls to death from tree

Tea estate labourers noticed the bear lying dead on a rock beneath a jamun tree. On receiving information, a team of Forest Department staff arrived and examined the animal. The Forest Department officials believe the animal to have suffered a fatal fall from the jamun tree, which it had climbed up to consume the fruits.

“The bear had quenched its thirst in a stream flowing nearby. Then, the animal strayed into the estate, climbed up the tree and consumed its fruits. The bear must have lost its grip as a leech entered its nose causing disturbance,” said a staff.

Unfortunately, the animal had fallen on a rock and suffered a hit on its chest area.

Officials said that this is a one-off occurrence and had never come across such freak incidents of bear deaths in the past.

A post-mortem wasperformed on the animal by veterinarianRevathy and the carcass of the animal was laterburnt by the ForestDepartment.