Srinagar, Dec 06 (KNB): The black bear that had sparked fear and curiosity across Srinagar for nearly two weeks was finally captured on Saturday evening in the Nigeen area, marking the end of an extensive multi-agency search operation.
Wildlife officials informed that the bear walked into a cage installed near the lake. “The animal has been safely trapped and will be shifted to a forest location after a proper medical check-up,” officials said.
The bear’s rare and lengthy “city tour” had taken it through several prominent locations— from NIT Srinagar to Kashmir University, then SKIMS Soura, and eventually the Nigeen belt — triggering widespread alarm and a robust response from wildlife authorities. Teams equipped with drones, tranquilizers and rescue vehicles tracked the animal round-the-clock to prevent any untoward incident.
Although the successful capture has brought major relief, officials confirmed that the search operation is not fully over. A second bear, spotted recently near the University of Kashmir, remains untraced. Surveillance and patrolling will continue for the next 24 hours until the second animal is located and secured. (KNB)