A five-year-old sloth bear that had repeatedly wandered through populated areas of Nagbhid in Maharashtra’s Chandrapur district has been safely tranquilised and rescued, bringing relief to residents after months of close encounters.
Chandrapur, Maharashtra | September 28, 2026
After nearly six months of repeated sightings around Nagbhid town, Forest Department officials have finally rescued a five-year-old female sloth bear that had been moving through residential and public areas.
The bear was safely tranquilised and captured from the railway colony area on Friday, following a carefully planned operation by forest and wildlife personnel.
The successful rescue ended months of concern among residents as the animal had repeatedly appeared in places frequented by people.
Bear Had Been Roaming Nagbhid for Months
This was not an animal that had suddenly entered the town.
According to The Times of India, the female sloth bear had been moving around Nagbhid for almost six months and had been spotted at several locations, including Shevatewadi, the tehsil office, panchayat samiti and railway station.
Its repeated appearances brought a wild bear into unusually close proximity with people going about their daily activities.
Sloth bears can be unpredictable when surprised at close quarters, making the animal’s continued presence in a populated area a serious concern both for residents and for the bear itself.
Fresh Sighting Triggers Rescue Operation
The breakthrough came after the Forest Department received information that the bear had entered the railway colony.
A rescue team was mobilised and began tracking the animal through the area.
The operation was led by Dr Ravikant Khobragade, veterinary officer with Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve, according to the report. The team followed the bear on foot and tracked its movements through a muddy section of the colony.
Rather than rushing towards the animal, rescuers maintained a safe distance while establishing its precise position.
Six-Hour Operation Ends Successfully
A local account indicates that the operation began at around 10 am and concluded at 3.54 pm, meaning rescuers spent nearly six hours securing the animal.
Once the team had determined a suitable position, the veterinary unit moved in to immobilise the bear.
Shooter Ajay Marathe assisted in safely darting the animal. After the tranquiliser took effect, the bear was secured and placed in a cage without reported injury to residents or members of the rescue team.
Safely Shifted to Chandrapur
Following its capture, the bear was transported to Chandrapur for further examination and management.
The operation is significant because capturing a sloth bear inside a populated area requires considerable caution.
An attempt to chase or corner a frightened animal can increase the likelihood of a defensive attack. Tranquilisation must also be carried out at an appropriate distance and in circumstances where the animal can be safely recovered after the drug takes effect.
In this case, patient tracking and controlled immobilisation allowed the operation to end without a dangerous confrontation.
Why Sloth Bears Enter Human-Dominated Areas
Nagbhid lies in Chandrapur district, a landscape where forests, agricultural areas and settlements occur alongside rich wildlife habitats.
Sloth bears can travel considerable distances while searching for food. Their natural diet includes termites, ants, fruits and other seasonal resources, but animals moving through fragmented landscapes may occasionally find themselves close to farms and settlements.
Such encounters become particularly risky at night or in dense vegetation, where people and bears may surprise one another at very short distances.
Residents Asked Not to Approach Wildlife
Following the Nagbhid operation, forest officials reiterated an important message for people encountering wild animals in populated areas.
Residents should not approach, chase or attempt to drive away a wild animal themselves. Instead, sightings should be reported promptly to the Forest Department so trained personnel can respond.
This is particularly important with sloth bears because many serious encounters occur when a bear feels surprised, surrounded or threatened rather than because the animal is deliberately seeking out people.
A Rescue That Protected Both People and the Bear
The Nagbhid operation demonstrates why timely wildlife-rescue intervention can be important in towns situated close to forest landscapes.
For almost six months, residents had lived with the possibility of encountering the bear around offices, residential areas and even the railway station.
Yet the situation ultimately ended without the animal being killed.
By tracking, tranquilising and removing the bear, the Forest Department was able to address the immediate danger to residents while giving the animal an opportunity to survive.
For Nagbhid’s residents, its successful capture brings relief. For wildlife managers, however, the incident is another reminder of the increasingly complex challenge of managing human-wildlife coexistence in the forest-rich landscapes of Chandrapur.
Source Credit: The Times of India, “After months of sightings, forest team finally rescues Nagbhid bear,” published September 28, 2026. Additional operational details cross-checked with Chandrapur Today.
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