Investigation Revealed Black Bear Killed For Poaching

News Desk

Peshawar: A preliminary investigation into the shooting death of a black bear that was discovered in critical condition in the Bugermung area of Siren Valley in the Manshera district revealed that poaching was the cause that led some locals to steal her two cubs for selling.

Divisional Forest Division (DFO) Wildlife Manshera Sarmad informed, “After holding an inquiry into the incident and discussions with locals, we have convinced ourselves that the bear was killed for snatching her two cubs.”

It is also established that the bear had two cubs, of which one escaped in the forest after firing bullets at her mother and the other was grabbed by the killers, stated Sarmad.

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He further informed that raids are being conducted in order to apprehend the three suspects in the case and recover the stolen bear cub from their custody.

It is pertinent to mention that a female black bear was found in a critically injured condition at the Bugermung area of Masnhera on July 19. The locals and Wildlife Department officials shifted the injured bear to Dhodial Phesantary for treatment but the beast succumbed to her injuries.

DFO said the search is also in progress for the escaped bear cub, and teams along with some locals are visiting nearby forest areas. He further stated that after the recovery of the cub from the possession of killers, the baby bear would be shifted to a safe location, including Peshawar Zoo, for care and upbringing.

If the cub is suckling, it would be kept in a safe facility for feeding by humans, and if it is grown up, the option of releasing it back into the wild would also be taken into account, Sarmad opined.

DFO Sarmad added that there is also a plan to have a meeting with the administration of the Islamabad Wildlife Management Board (IWMB) to discuss the cub’s release at its rehabilitation facility, where such bear cubs are kept and raised.

He expressed hope that the bear’s killers would be apprehended quickly and that the kidnapped cub would be recovered from their possession.