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Sending a wild guest back to its home

As told, with his pictures, by TVN Murthy
Honorary Wildlife Warden, Tumkur District, Karnataka and 
Founder Advisor, WANC, Tumkur. 
Email: tvnmurthy@vsnl.com

Dear Friends,

On Feb 20, 2009, I received an unusual call from residents of Devalapura village, near Madhugiri Town, in south-eastern Karnataka, at half past eight and rushed to the spot. I could hear howls of a bear from almost half a KM from where it seemed to be located. On reaching the place, I saw an entire village watching in apprehension a Sloth bear. It was trapped up a Jackfruit tree. 

©TVN Murthy (All rights reserved) 

©TVN Murthy (All rights reserved) 
The problem
Sloth Bear (Melursus ursinus) is quite common around Madhugiri in Tumkur District. Many villagers encounter this animal in early hours and at dusk. I have heard many reports of attack on human in this area. During the recent by-elections to Madhugiri Assembly constituency, a sloth bear mother with cubs, mauled to death a home guard deputed to secure the elections.

But, what I didn't know was, about a systematic trap used by villagers to catch this animal. All that the farmers here do is wind a thick steel wire around trunks of Jack fruit trees in and around their farmlands and intertwine it with a few ligatures drawn from automobile brake/ clutch cable. When an animal tries to climb or come down the tree, it unwittingly puts its feet into the knot. As it tries to pull the limb away, the 'trap' will arrest the animal. You can see this in the close-up image of the trapped leg.

©TVN Murthy (All rights reserved) 

©TVN Murthy (All rights reserved) 
The solutions
It would have been an easy task to just untie the knot to release the animal, but villagers said this animal frequently entered the farmlands around their village. They demanded its relocation away from their village. Giving into the villagers, authorities summoned a veterinary doctor to assist them. 

©TVN Murthy (All rights reserved) 
The rescue
It was not easy to go near the injured and anxious animal. First, ropes were tied to the animal arresting its movement and then the Vet managed to inject a sedative. In a few minutes, the animal developed drowsiness and was near asleep. With the support of  villagers and forest guards we could able to bring down the animal. It was then put in a cage.


©TVN Murthy (All rights reserved) 

©TVN Murthy (All rights reserved) 
It was a sub-adult male Sloth Bear. The body was about 168 cm long, covered in long and shaggy fur. It has its distinctive "V"-shaped white mark on the chest, a whitish snout and black nose. It's snout was long with bare lips and lacked upper incisors - adaptations for its insect-based diet. For your information, the sloth bear's front feet are turned inwards and its curved claws are non-retractable, that are adapted to dig and climb.

©TVN Murthy (All rights reserved) 
The release
Since the bear was healthy and did not have any injuries, it was decided that it be released in a nearby state forest. It was brought into the wilderness of Devarayanadurga State Forest, 10 km as a crows flies south-east from the place where it was caught. After ensuring the sedation had worn off and it was active as it should be, it was released in to the wild. 

Aftermath
Three weeks from the release, there have been no reports of this (or any) bear attacking humans or entering villages surrounding this state forest. Please click here to read some info and see a map on Devarayanadurga State Forest. 
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Comments

  1. meghaMarch 12, 2009 at 2:15 PM

    Briliant Job. It is always good to believe that there are better ways of dealing with such problems and respect the right of other species to live in the so called world that is taken over by human beings!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Dr. Harendra Singh BargaliMarch 13, 2009 at 2:34 PM

    Excellent job! People should learn form this example.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Dr. Sumit DookiaMarch 15, 2009 at 2:21 PM

    This shows, how we can easily translocate any problem animals. Thanks for sharing nice example with us.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Dr. Sumit DookiaMarch 15, 2009 at 2:26 PM

    This is a good example for all of us to understand how a problem animal can easily translocated. Thanks for sharing

    ReplyDelete
  5. Kannada CuisineMarch 16, 2009 at 3:21 PM

    Kudos! Keep up the good work. I only hope the Bear is doing fine :)

    ReplyDelete
  6. LaxmeeshaMay 19, 2009 at 11:54 AM

    Its good that WANC is known to the villages in this area and the villagers knew whom to contact, unlike other incidents we read of where locals take law into their hands and end up clubbing the poor beast to death.

    ReplyDelete

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