Three injured in wild boar attack

Bhubaneswar: At least three persons were injured as a wild boar attacked them near Ghatikia locality on the outskirts of capital city today.

“The animal which had sneaked into the locality lying on the fringe of Chandaka wildlife sanctuary, might have attacked them in self-defence after being frightened by human presence”, said Divisional Forest Officer, Chandaka forest range, Kedar Kumar Swain.

The strayed wild boar was later captured by the Forest staff who released it in its natural habitat inside Chandaka wildlife sanctuary, he informed.

Stating that the condition of the three injured persons at the Capital Hospital is stable, the DFO said the Forest department will bear the cost of treatment of the injured persons. Besides ex-gratia compensation grants amounting to Rs 5,000 will be provided to each family of the injured persons as per Odisha Forest Department Rules.

There are past instances of acts of straying by elephants into the outskirts of the capital city. However, the incidence has come down in recent years after the Forest department installed fence barrier at strategic forest-side spots which were prone to animals’ intrusion. Trenches have also been dug out to keep the elephants at bay.

However, straying of wild animals like wild boar as it was reported today is few and far as they are scared to venture into places of human habitations, added the Forest official.