A distressing incident of bear hunting has recently been uncovered in the forest of Gariyaband, shedding light on the brutal killing of a female bear in the Indagaon (Dhurvagudi) buffer zone. The carcass of the bear was discovered under the hill, revealing gruesome details of the hunt. The bear’s jaw was severely damaged due to the explosion of potash bombs, and the nails of both front feet were missing, raising concerns that the hunter targeted the bear for its valuable body parts. The unfortunate discovery was made by a village shepherd who had ventured into the forest to graze his cows and goats. Upon encountering the mutilated body of the bear, the shepherd promptly informed the village authorities, leading to the notification of the Forest Department. Upon receiving the report of the bear hunting incident, a specialised team comprising members from Raipur, Kanker, and Gariyaband was dispatched to the location to initiate an investigation.

 

The investigative efforts are being led by the Raipur Jungle Safari team and Kanker’s dog squad, supported by the Gariyaband cyber cell in their pursuit to apprehend the perpetrators responsible for the heinous act. The deceased bear was found in the Bandhwapara beat, with evident signs of trauma caused by potash bomb detonation and the removal of its nails. Deputy Director Varun Jain of the Udanti Sitanadi Tiger Reserve expressed deep concern over the incident and highlighted the collaborative efforts between the anti-poaching teams of Raipur, Kanker, and Udanti Sitanadi Tiger Reserve to thoroughly investigate the matter.

 

The Forest Department team is currently engaged in conducting a detailed inquiry to ascertain the identity of the culprits involved in the illegal hunting activity. It is imperative to note that the Gariaband region harbours a significant population of bears, making it imperative to safeguard these vulnerable species from such ruthless acts of poaching. As the investigation progresses, the authorities remain committed to ensuring justice for the slain bear and taking stringent action against those found guilty of perpetrating this barbaric act of wildlife crime.