Man mauled by bears in Palamu Tiger Reserve

Daltonganj: A 32-year-old man was injured after being attacked by three bears in Mahuadarn range of Palamu Tiger Reserve (PTR) on Friday evening.Kishun Nagesia, a resident of Kukudpat village under Orsa panchayat in Latehar district, was returning home from Koyladah forest after collecting wild mushrooms when he was attacked by the bears, one of them a cub.A member of a Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group (PVTG), Nagesia sustained injuries to his head, hands, legs and back but managed to save himself by lying face-down on the ground.“Had he remained standing, the bears could have caused severe injuries to his face, eyes and forehead,” said forester-in charge Gurudayal Singh, adding that bears often stand on their hind legs and use their sharp claws to incapacitate a target.Nagesia was administered anti-rabies vaccine and treated at the Mahuadarn community health centre before being referred to Latehar Sadar Hospital.Deputy director (South Division) of PTR, Kumar Ashish, urged villagers to avoid entering forests during evening hours, warning that the Mahuadarn range has a high population of sloth bears.