PAMPORE: Wildlife department experts Range Khrew along with police Pampore and joint control room(JCR) Pampore tranquilized and captured a black bear which was roaming in a residential area at Galander area of Saffron Town Pampore in south Kashmir’s Pulwama district on Tuesday.
The bear was spotted by local residents in a residential area in Gujjar Basti Galander near Srinagar-Jammu National highway.
After received a call about the presence of the bear near residential area and joint team of wildlife department, police and forest department led by SDPO Pampore Mir Imtiyaz Ahmad, Ranger Wildlife Range Khrew Khursheed Ahmad rushed to the spot with tranquiliser guns and captured the black bear after one hour long operation, officials told Kashmir Reader.
Panic gripped the farmers who were working in the karevas these days and saw a bear roaming .
Talking to Kashmir Reader Ghulam Nabi Bajraan said that his two little children went near a spot to bring some grass for cattle.
He said that they were chased by the bear and had a narrow escape.
He said that they informed SDPO Pampore Mir Imtiyaz Ahmad SHO Pampore Adil Ashraf about the presence of the wild bear in the Galander area.
SDPO Pampore Mir Imtiyaz Ahmad told Kashmir Reader that he received a call from locals that a bear is hiding in maize fields near Galander Pampore.
” I immediately rushed to the spot and informed wildlife department officials,” he said, adding that they along with a team of wildlife officials and police captured the animal after one hour.
He hailed the wildlife department officials for capturing the wild bear and saving lives of Saffron farmers who are working in the karevas these days.
Talking to Kashmir Reader Khurshid Ahmad, Ranger wildlife Range Khrew, said that it was in the morning of Tuesday that he received a message from SHO Pampore about the presence of a wild bear in a residential area in Galander.
” A team of experts from Khrew Range, police Pampore along with JCR Pampore weed deputed to the spot,” he said.
Adding that they were successful in tranquilizing the bear in the first shot.
He appreciated SDPO Pampore Mir Imtiyaz Ahmad and SHO Pampore Adil Ashraf for cooperating with them.
Block Officer wildlife Range Khrew Mudasir Ahmad who led the expert team said that they received information from police Pampore that a back bear hiding in a maize field created panic among the local population in the area.
He said that after getting information about the black bear straying near a residential area ,a team of Wildlife department officials, Joint Control Room Pampore reached the spot and tranquilized the bear without any injury to anyone.
The locals also appreciated the wildlife department and Pampore police for swift action. People living in the area had a sigh of relief after the joint team captured the black bear.

BILAL HABIB