Awareness meeting to limit human-sloth bear interactions in Nilgiris held
The event was organised by the forest department from the Mukurthi Forest Range of the Mudumalai Tiger Reserve (MTR) and was attended by residents as well as those from surrounding areas such as Manjoor
An awareness meeting aimed at reducing conflicts between humans and sloth bears in the Nilgiris was held on Friday (September 18, 2026) at Kil Kundha. Organized by the forest department from the Mukurthi Forest Range of the Mudumalai Tiger Reserve (MTR), the event drew participants from Kil Kundha and nearby Manjoor. Residents voiced concerns about the growing presence of sloth bears in their villages and brainstormed strategies to minimize harmful interactions with these animals.
Notable attendees included wildlife experts B. Ramakrishnan, head of the wildlife biology department at the Government Arts College, and Chandrasekar Das from the Keystone Foundation. The organizers presented residents with awareness videos and a visual slide show that highlighted the local challenges and demonstrated how understanding bear behavior can help reduce negative interactions.
This meeting follows a rise in sloth bear sightings, primarily in the Kundha and Kotagiri areas, linked to poor waste management practices.
Written by urgent.news from The Hindu's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
