2 bears sighted in house compound at Mullayar near Kumily

Idukki: The sighting of two bears in a residential area at Mullayar near Kumily has caused panic among local residents. The bears were spotted in the house courtyard of Indulekha Ratheesh. The incident occurred around 8pm on Sunday.The visuals were captured on the CCTV camera in the house. Forest officials suspect the animals may have strayed from the Periyar Tiger Reserve.The forest department has initiated steps to install cameras and strengthen monitoring in the area. Residents said that it has been a long time since bears were last spotted in this locality.The presence of bears has caused fear among workers and those living near the cardamom plantations in the area. Earlier, a worker in a nearby plantation was injured in an attack by a wild bison.Locals also pointed out that nearly 40 acres of land owned by a person from Alappuzha, located adjacent to the area, remains overgrown and unused. It is reported that several wild animals inhabit this land.There is a growing demand from residents to clear the area to prevent further wildlife intrusion.Tiger moves out of forestA tiger that was captured from Munnar and released into the Periyar Tiger Reserve has reportedly moved out of the forest area.The animal has repeatedly crossed Thondiyar near the forest boundary and reached Kurishumala area in Kumily.Forest officials are monitoring the situation as the tiger could stray into nearby human settlements, including the tribal colony and Kurishumala region.The tiger, which had earlier killed several domestic animals and posed a threat in populated areas of Munnar, was captured last month and relocated to the reserve. However, officials believe that the animal may have developed a habit of venturing into human settlements for food, leading it to move out of the forest even after being released deep inside.Precautionary measures, including intensified surveillance, have been put in place in Kurishumala and nearby tribal colonies to ensure the safety of residents.