Village on edge as bear falls into well in Malkangiri, Forest team rescues animal

Panic gripped residents of MPV-26 village under the Kalimela block of Odisha’s Malkangiri district after a bear fell into a well on Friday morning.

According to sources, the bear was first spotted roaming near the village late Thursday night. However, villagers discovered the animal trapped inside a well early on Friday and immediately alerted the Forest Department.

Responding swiftly, a team of forest officials rushed to the spot and launched a rescue operation. Using safety nets and other specialised equipment, the team managed to pull the bear out of the well after nearly two hours of effort. No injuries were reported during the operation.

Preliminary assessments suggest the bear may have entered the human settlement in search of food.

Following the rescue, forest veterinarians provided medical treatment to the animal. Officials confirmed that the bear’s condition is stable and that it will be released back into the forest after completing treatment and a period of observation.

The incident has once again underscored the rising instances of human-wildlife interaction in the region, prompting villagers to seek effective measures to prevent such occurrences in the future.