A five-year-old female sloth bear that had been entering populated parts of Nagbhid town for nearly six months was rescued from the railway colony area on Friday and moved to the Transit Treatment Centre in Chandrapur for medical examination and observation.
The bear had been sighted at several locations, including Shevatewadi, the tehsil office, panchayat samiti and the railway station. Its repeated movement through areas used by residents had triggered alarm and brought the animal into close proximity with populated neighbourhoods.
The forest department began the rescue operation after receiving information about the bear’s presence in the railway colony. The team, led by Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve veterinary officer Dr Ravikant Khobragade, tracked the animal on foot through a muddy patch in the colony.
Rescuers maintained a safe distance while triangulating the bear’s position before immobilising it with assistance from a veterinary team. Shooter Ajay Marathe was involved in safely tranquilising the animal during the operation.
Once secured, the bear was placed in a cage at around 4pm and transported to the Chandrapur TTC. The centre will conduct a medical examination and keep the animal under observation, according to the report.
The operation was conducted under the guidance of Kumaraswamy, deputy conservator of forests for the Brahmapuri division, and under the supervision of Nagbhid range forest officer Bharati Bagmare. Forest personnel from the Nagbhid range and other members of the rescue team also assisted.
The rescue concludes a prolonged period during which the bear was reported at multiple locations across the town. The immediate next step is the animal’s medical assessment and observation at the Chandrapur centre.
