Bear carcasses recovered, poisoning suspected

CHENKANAL: Man-bear conflict has intensified in Dhenkanal forests. The forest officials on Friday recovered carcasses of two females and a male bear from Bosai-Balimunda forest under Kamakshyanagar reserve forest (west range). Local Ranger H K Panda said investigation is on and persons involved in killing the bears by poisoning the mangoes will be soon arrested. The carcasses were buried in the forest after post-mortem.Instances of bears attacking villagers have increased in the recent past. Mulia Biswal (70) of Bisoi village succumbed to his injuries sustained in a bear attack on way to hospital last week. Biswal took on the bear and killed it. The incident had spread panic in the village, close to the forest range.According to forest officials, hundreds of bears are roaming in the Kamakshyanagar forest range. With villagers frequenting the forest to collect mangoes, a source of their livelihood, the fear of bear attack looms large.Same is the case with Kharmul and Taladanda villages under Nijigarh GP.