Forest dept places cage to trap wild bears in Nilgiris

According to sources, bears broke into a bakery at Sakthimalai and devoured biscuits and snacks.

They also attempted to enter a temple in the same neighbourhood to consume oil stocked for lighting lamps on Saturday night. Bears gaining entry into a bakery is a second such incident as they entered the bakery and ate the snacks just a few months ago.

Following repeated incidents, the villagers urged the Forest department to capture the animals and translocate them elsewhere. Villagers claimed that they have seen a group of three bears in their locality frequently.

Following this, officials of the Forest department placed a cage in front of the bakery to trap the animals. Fruits were placed inside the cage to lure them.

Two weeks ago, the Forest department placed a trap to capture the same animals visiting Milithen village near Kotagiri. The bears however remained evasive and also moved over to Sakthimalai area.

It may be recalled that the Forest department captured and relocated a bear that broke into a bakery in S Kaikatty village a few months ago. The captured bear was freed in the Avalanche forests.