Himalayan Black Bear
surfaces in Mangan,

attacks a 51-year-old woman

MANGAN, November, 8 2009: In what could be a
repetition of West and East Districts, a 51-year-old woman of Khamsang village, Upper Malling
in North Sikkim was mauled by a Himalayan Black Bear.

The incident took place this morning at around 8:35 when the
animal attacked Suk Maya Subba
on her left shoulder and scratched her face and chest portion with the sharp
paws, grievously injuring her.

The victim has been admitted at Mangan
Hospital and is
undergoing treatment. The State
Forest and Wildlife
Management Department, Mangan provided Rs 2500 as treatment grant to Suk Maya.

Forest officials said that the
animal has gone missing after it went into the Raffong
Khola area. They suspect the animal to be hiding in
the cardamom field around Raffong Khola,
nearby Mangan. Three boys from Malling, who had
gone to collect fodder in the forest were also attacked by the bear near Teesta
Urja training institute but is reported to have rescued
themselves.

Meanwhile, the State Forest Department and Police Department, Mangan have
alerted the people of the area not to venture in the area where the bear has
escaped until the animal is trapped.

A team from Gangtok with tranquilisers
have arrived Mangan today. The team led by DFO (Wildlife), Mangan will start
their search operation tomorrow morning, it is learnt.

According to the local version, the production of avocado, which is the special
food of the Himalayan Black Bear, was less this year, due to which the animal
has started coming down to lower elevation.