Sloth bear enters Marudhamalai temple premises, enjoys honey

COIMBATORE: A sloth bear caused a stir at the Subramaniaswamy Temple in Marudhamalai here on Wednesday morning after it entered the temple premises, feasting on honey in a beehive and spending considerable time there before retreating into the forest.

The bear emerged from the forest around 8.30 am and was spotted behind the area where the temple’s golden chariot (thanga ther) is stationed. Devotees and pilgrims at the site were surprised and immediately took out their smartphones to capture photos and videos of the unexpected visitor.

Temple staff alerted the forest department. However, by the time officials arrived, the bear, after spending a long time exploring the area, had quietly slipped back into the dense forest.

After inspecting the site, forest officials confirmed that the bear had been drawn by the beehive.

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