Two thirsty bears in the summer heat fought with each other for water, leaving one dead and the other injured, in the jungles of Jagdala forest circle near Bhurkoni Bahati village about 15 km from the city.
There is a rivulet named Machka in between the Bhurkoni village and Jagdala hills, where bear come to quench their thirst during summer days. According to sources, no arrangement for water has been made for wild animals in the forests of the area and they reach the residential areas of the villages in search of water.
On Tuesday morning, some villagers saw a wild bear drenched in blood on the bank of the river in the downhill of Jagdala Mandalpat and informed the local forest office. The forest officials, after post-mortem and Panchnama, burnt the body of the dead bear near the site of the incident.According to Janpad member of Bhurkoni Radheshyam Agrawal, Machka river gets dry during summer, but at some places, the villagers dig the sandy areas and get water. At times, the wild bears come down the hills to quench their thirst from these water sources, he added.
The body of the bear was burnt in the presence of SDO KS Nirmalkar. It is assumed that the bear died due to mutual fight for water, as there were grievous injury marks on the body of the dead animal. Disturbed by the scorching heat in the areas, bears used to attack other wild animals and human beings. Recently, a bear had attacked women, who went to attend nature’s call in Bartunga village, in which many of them suffered injuries.
According to sources, summer is the hardest time for bears. Unable to withstand scorching heat, they used to come out of forests and hills in search of water at the ponds and rivulets near residential areas. On seeing the villagers, these wild bears attack them. According villagers of Bhurkoni area, bears were seen resting under the Mahua trees of the area.