Handwara March 04 (KNS): Panic gripped Vilgam Dolipora village of Handwara in north Kashmir’s Kupwara district on Saturday after a black bear strayed into a shed, while wildlife department used fire crackers to make the animal flee from the spot in absence of trained men.
Locals told Kashmir News Service (KNS) that a black bear entered a shed in Villgam Dolipora village in the afternoon but it was not tranquilized due lack of rescue vehicle and trained men.
They said as the bear entered the village, wildlife department was informed, however, due to lack of equipments and trained men they were not able to tranquillise or rescue the bear.
The alleged that the department is so ill-equpped that they were not able to trap or tranquillise the animal.
“Later in the evening, the department officials used some fire crackers to scare the bear following which it escaped from the spot and ran towards forest area,” he said.
Meanwhile, a wildlife official said they have no trained men and they also lack equipments due to which they were not able to tranquilize the bear.
“We had no other option but to use fire crackers to make the bear flee from the spot. We have only one rescue van in North Kashmir, which was not available today,” he said.
He added the district not only lacks rescue vans but strength of employees has been a challenge for the department.
When contacted wildlife warden north Kashmir said they had one trained employee in the district who also got retired.
“The equipments are very scientific and needs special training to operate them. We have one rescue van that was not unfortunately available today,” he added. (KNS)