An injured bear that was brought to Van Vihar National Park on Wednesday for treatment died during evening hours. Last rites of the bear were performed in presence of wildlife officials. Samples have been taken for further laboratory testing. The bear was rescued from Raisen road during early morning hours. Van Vihar officials said that the male bear suffered several injuries in a road accident. He had several injuries on the backbone, hind leg and face after colliding with a heavy vehicle. The bear was kept at Van Vihar treatment centre.

 

Dr Atul Gupta, Veterinary doctor of Van Vihar and Dr Preetam Acharya from Wildlife Hospital SOS, were continuously monitoring the bear but it could not survive. The bear was brought to the park in critical condition. According to sources, the bear was trying to cross the road at National Highway near Bilkhiriya jungle during intervening night of Wednesday. The injured bear was lying on roadside for six hours. During morning hours, locals of the area witnessed the bear and informed the Forest Department and police team.

 

Forest officials said that population of bear has increased in Madhya Pradesh at a fast pace. They claimed that after tiger, ghariyal and leopards, Madhya Pradesh have highest population of bear. Though there is no national census plan for bear but the State has more than 4,000 bears in its forest areas.