4 bears, including 2 cubs, found dead in a farm well

Chandrapur: A bear family of four was found dead in a desolate farm well near Wadholi village under Chandrapur forest range on Thursday morning.
Forest officers after primary investigations ruled out foul play or poaching angle in the case, and termed it as an accidental death due to trauma and hunger. RFO, Chandrapur range, Rahul Karekar claimed that all the nails and other body parts are safe.
Karekar said that the local forest guard went to check the farm well in a fallow farmland after few locals complained of foul smell. He was shocked after seeing carcasses of four bears floating in the well. The RFO said that the animals included an adult male, female and two six months old cubs. “One of the cubs was female, while the sex of other could not be ascertained due to petrified condition,” he said.
He claimed that veterinary doctors have failed to ascertain the cause of death as the carcasses were in petrified condition.
A team from Chandrapur range office and senior officials rushed to the spot. Karekare claimed that the carcasses were around four days old. In-charge of transit treatment centre, Dr Kundan Podchalwar and livestock development officer, Dr PD Kadukar performed post-mortem at the spot.
“We found bear scat along the route close to the well. The area was well frequented by the bears. It appears that one or both cubs accidently fell into the well having no parapet wall. Their parents would have went down to rescue the cubs but failed in the attempt,” said Karekar.
The carcasses were later incinerated before the witnesses including DFO Sarita Jagtap, ACF Shriniwas Lakhmawad, local NGOs and foresters.