Sloth bear attacks man grazing cattle in TN reserve forest

VELLORE: A sloth bear attacked a man while he was grazing his cattle in Kempasamuthiram reserve forest in Tirupattur district of Tamil Nadu on Monday evening.

The injured has been identified as N Venkatesan of Kothur village near Ambur. He climbed the Machampattu hilly terrain in the Kempasamuthiram reserve forest to graze his cattle.

Around 3pm, a bear and its three cubs came that way. The bear attacked Venkatesan.

The man sustained critical injuries on his forehead and left eye. “He alerted his relatives over the phone,” said Ambur forest range section guard S Suresh.

On being informed by his relatives, forest officials headed by Ambur forest range officer G D Moorthy rushed to the spot. They informed 108 ambulance service as well.

After administering first aid, Venkatesan was rushed to Ambur Government Hospital from where he was referred to Government Vellore Medical College and Hospital (GVMCH).

Moorthy said, “In the reserve forest, there are bears, foxes and leopards and other animals. Despite several warnings, the villagers continue to trespass into forest to graze their cattle and collect firewood.”

Two years ago, a sloth bear strayed into Kothur village with its cubs and attacked a four-year-old child.

“We are planning to conduct a meeting with villagers in the area to avert similar incidents,” he said.