Kalpetta: In an unusual incident, three bears strayed into a residential area at Chettalathoor, near Sultan Bathery, on Friday, spreading panic among the people.
The bears were spotted first by some women laborers towards whom the animals rushed. Though two bears returned to the forest after sometime, one stayed back. It eventually found its way to a coffee storage yard owned by Appu, a retired school teacher.
The bear got trapped inside the yard after some locals managed to lock it from outside.
Forest officials reached the spot and tried to drive the bear into the forests, in vain. Later, it was decided to tranquilize the bear and send it back to the forest.
Incidents of wild animals such as elephants and leopards straying into human habitations are being reported increasingly of late. However, bears finding their way into human settlements is not usual.
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