Bear injures man in Balakot

MANSEHRA: A black bear attacked a man in the Hangrai area of Balakot tehsil, leaving him with serious injuries, before returning to its natural habitat in the surrounding alpine forests. Malik Amir, the Balakot wildlife department’s sub-divisional officer, informed reporters on Tuesday that the bear entered a populated region from the nearby alpine forest, where it habitually resides, and inflicted injury upon a local resident named Taj Mohammad.

Mr. Amir disclosed that the man was transferred to the Tehsil Headquarters Hospital in Balakot, where he received medical care and a rabies vaccination. He added that the wildlife department had already conducted awareness programs for the local communities and implemented measures to ensure their safety. “Following the incident, a team visited the area and held discussions with residents, urging them to avoid agricultural fields near Nadi forest, which serves as a habitat for black bears and common leopards,” Mr. Amir explained.

He noted that black bears are drawn to maize crops and frequently enter agricultural fields in search of sustenance. When people encounter these animals, they may provoke an attack, resulting in injury.