Keonjhar: The forest department rescued two bear cubs after they were found caught in a hunter’s snare near Keri village under the Sadar forest range on Friday morning.Sources said villagers heard the cubs’ cries from inside the forest and alerted the department. A rescue team comprising local staff of Keonjhar range, assistant conservator of forests, division’s veterinarian and biologist, and rapid response team launched a coordinated operation. Villagers gathered at the site and a team controlled the crowd to ensure the safety of the animals and rescue personnel.DFO Dhanaraj HD said the two cubs, around six months old, were safely tranquilised with mild sedation using a dart gun. The snare was cut with a GI wire cutter and the cubs were freed without injury. The veterinary team conducted a physical examination and, after finding both cubs fit and stable, released them back into their habitat. The team monitored them until they moved safely into the forest, the DFO said.
