CHITRADURGA: A sloth bear, which had been trapped in a cage placed by the Forest Department, managed to escape when the personnel were trying to shift it from where the cage was placed, at Molkalmuru on Saturday night.
Over the last few days, the bear was regularly spotted near the Anjaneya temple in the town, creating a sense of fear. Following this, the Forest Department has place a cage in the temple and the bear got trapped in it on Saturday night.
When the Forest Department personnel arrived at the temple to shift the bear, the restless animal somehow broke open the cage and made good its escape towards the hills. Luckily, neither the forest staff nor the curious crowd that had gathered around the temple were hurt.
However, after the bear escaped, there is a sense of fear and locals have demanded that the Forest Department take immediate steps to trap the bear and shift it to a safe location.