Nabarangpur: The carcass of a bear cub was found on the riverbed at Utara village under Bhatrasiuni block in Nabarangpur district Saturday.
According to reports, locals found foam oozing out of the mouth of the dead bear cub. It is suspected that the baby bear might have died due to poisoning.
On receipt of information, forest officials reached the spot and started an investigation.
A female bear had given birth to two cubs near Siddheswar temple at Bhatrasiuni village two days ago. In search of food, the bear has been straying into human settlements and sugarcane fields. It was also seen roaming in the village and feeding upon dumped stale rice and other food items at night, triggering panic among the villagers.
A person and the bear came face to face when he had gone to the temple last Sunday. However, he ran for his life and locked him inside the temple.
He raised an alarm following which some locals came to his rescue and drove the wild animal away from the spot.
PNN
