Juang man survives sloth bear attack in Jajpur
Suna Pradhani of Majhinagada village was returning home from the local market on Sunday evening when he was attacked by the bear in Daitari reserve forest.
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Despite being alone and caught off-guard, Pradhan managed to fend off the animal using a bamboo stick, sustaining injuries to his back and leg.
Raju Pradhani, a fellow villager, recounted the encounter. "The bear pounced upon him, but Suna fought bravely, and his life was spared when the animal retreated after he struck with a stick," he said.
Suna is being treated at the community health centre in Sukinda. "I escaped by fighting the animal using a stick," he said from his hospital bed.
Villagers praised Suna's courage in the face of danger. However, the attack also highlighted the growing concern over frequent bear encounters with villagers expressing frustration over the lack of protection from wild animals.
Forest officials said that sloth bear is Schedule-I species under the Wildlife Protection Act, making it illegal to harm them. Debendra Majhi, forest range officer of Sukinda, said that bears often stray into villages due to food shortage. He also reminded locals that entering the forest without permission to collect resources is illegal.
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