The public in the Kotagiri area of Nilgiris district were left in a state of panic after a bear suddenly entered the premises of the Vinayagar temple at Kotagiri.
The Nilgiris: The movement of wildlife including bear, bison, wild boar, leopard and elephant has been on the increase significantly in Kotagiri and its surrounding areas.
The wildlife often leave the forest cover in search of food and water and stray into residential areas, tea plantations and roads.
A bear suddenly entered the premises of the Dannington Vinayagar Temple on the main road from Kotagiri to Mettupalayam in the wee hours of Wednesday. Motorists crossing the area immediately clicked pictures on their mobile phones and posted it on social media, with the video also going viral.
Christopher(43), a home guard who was on night patrol duty, was also chased by a bear in the same area in the wee hours of Wednesday, and fell down injured. He was later admitted to a private hospital in Coimbatore for treatment.
Locals in the area thus fear bear movement and have demanded the Forest Department to immediately take steps to drive the bear back into the dense forest.