New topic :Human-bear conflict:
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Characteristics of sloth bear attacks and human casualties
in North Bilaspur Forest Division, Chhattisgarh, India
H.S. Bargali1'3, Naim Akhtar2'4, and N.P.S. Chauhan2'5
1World Wide Fund for Nature - India, Lodi Estate, New Delhi 110003, India
2Wildlife Institute of India, PO Box 18, Chandrabani, Dehradun 248001, India Abstract: Sloth bears (Melursus ursinus) are endemic to the Indian subcontinent and frequently come
into conflict with humans. In the North Bilaspur Forest Division, a total of 137 attacks (resulting in
11 deaths) occurred between April 1998 and December 2000. Most (54%) incidents took place during
the monsoon season. Attacks occurred (45%) early in the morning (0400-0800 hrs) more frequently
than at other times; human activities at the time of attack were most frequently defecation (27%);
locations of attacks were in kitchen gardens, crop fields, and in adjoining forests. A single bear was in-
volved in a majority (56%) of incidents, but groups of 2 (20%) and 3 (21%) bears were also involved.
Attacks were predominantly by a single bear (93%) and rarely by 2 (4%) or 3 bears. In most cases, the
attacking bear ran away (55%) or was chased by other people (39%) or livestock. Most victims
suffered multiple injuries (52%); single injuries on legs (25%), hand (12%), and head (8%) regions
were also recorded. "
"...Bears most commonly (36.5%) attacked by running
on all four legs and knocking the victim down. The
second most common (28.5%) mode was attacking by
standing on their hind leg (Table 2). More rarely (1.5%),
bears tried to climb a tree to attack the victim in the tree. .."
www.bearbiology.com/fileadmin/tpl/Downloads/URSUS/Vol_16_2/Bargali_Akhtar_16_2_.pdfInjuries from bear (Ursus thibetanus) attacks in Kashmir
Kaflmir’de ay› (Ursus thibetanus) sald›r›lar›ndan kaynaklanan yaralanmalar
Shafaat Rashid TAK, Gh Nabi DAR, Manzoor Ahmed HALWAI, Bashir Ahmed MIRBACKGROUND
Strict conservation of wildlife and encroachment into its habi-
tat have led to an increase in the number of wild animal-
inflicted injuries and fatalities in Kashmir. The aim of this
study was to report injuries inflicted during bear attacks and
discuss their management and sequelae.
METHODS
A retrospective study was conducted in the Department of
Orthopedics Government Medical College Srinagar,
University of Kashmir, from January 2003 to June 2007. A
total of 254 cases (186 males, 68 females) with history of bear
attacks were recorded over a period of 54 months.
RESULTS
Eighty percent of victims were attacked in the maize fields
and apple orchards and 20% in the dense forests while collect-
ing firewood or tending to the cattle. Lacerations of the head
and neck and fractures of the upper limbs and facial and skull
bones were the striking observations. Permanent facial disfig-
urement, hearing loss, loss of digits, residual neurodeficit, and
persistent psychological morbidity were the long-term seque-
lae in most of the patients.
CONCLUSION
Wild animal-inflicted injuries are a neglected part of trauma.
There should be a high index of suspicion when treating these
injuries, as serious underlying bone or soft-tissue damage can
be overlooked. Management of these injuries involves all
subspecialties of trauma to achieve the best functional out-
c o m e .
"...A total of 254 cases were recorded over a period
of 54 months. There were 186 (71.7%) males and 68
(28.3%) females, including 16 children (Table 1).
Two hundred and three (80%) victims were attacked
in the maize fields and apple orchards; only 51
(20%) victims were attacked in the dense forests.
Deep lacerations to the scalp, face and trunk were
the most common findings, affecting 163 (64%)
patients. Upper limb (24%) and facial (19%) and
skull bone (18%) fractures were a striking observa-
tion. Hearing loss, intracranial bleed and fractures of
the ribs were seen in 12.%, 6% and 4.7% of patients,
respectively. Avulsion of tendons and nerves of the
forearm and hand was seen in 28% of patients.
Injuries to the eyes and external ears were less com-
mon (Table 2). Long-term sequelae in most of the
patients were permanent facial disfigurement
(10.6%) (Fig. 1), loss of digits (4.3%), hearing loss
(12.5%) and stiffness of the joints (21.5%). Residual
neurodeficit (1.9%) and persistent psychological
morbidity were seen in some patients (Table 3).
There were two mortalities. ..."
The bear usually attacks for self defense with
special predilection towards the face, causing minor
injuries to some but major fractures and serious dis-
figurement in others (Figs. 1, 2). In addition, to bite
by powerful jaws, the common means of attack by
the bear is to slap the head and facial region of the
victim, leading to fractures of skull and facial bones,
extra- or intracranial hemorrhage, hearing loss and
deep lacerations to the face. Compound fractures of
the upper limbs, tendon lacerations and hearing loss
(due to powerful slap) are commonly seen in the vic-
tims of bear attack. .."
Bear-crunched-on-mans-skullA POLITICIAN who lost an eye in a horrific bear attack has told of the sickening moment he felt the beast's teeth crunch against his skull.
John Chelminiak, 58, also suffered a cut to his neck so deep it reached his spine, as well as wounds to his face, stomach and lower body when the bear pounced.
Speaking from hospital, he said: "I vividly remember being bitten on the head and the sound that makes as her teeth were going into my head and running along the skull.
John Chelminiak, 58, also suffered a cut to his neck so deep it reached his spine, as well as wounds to his face, stomach and lower body when the bear pounced.
Speaking from hospital, he said: "I vividly remember being bitten on the head and the sound that makes as her teeth were going into my head and running along the skull.
"It was just a horrendous fight. I do remember her hitting me in my left eye and how that felt. There was just a bright flash of light.
"It stopped just in time for me to survive."
John was attacked outside his holiday home close to Seattle, US, on September 17.
He had been walking his dogs nearby at about 8.30pm when he heard some rustling in the leaves.
Seconds later an 11-stone black female bear lunged at him.
John managed to run away and head back towards the cabin, but the beast ran after him and pounced on his pets.
When they escaped, the bear turned her attention back to him.
John fought the bear off by kneeing her and called to his wife Lynn and daughter Megan, 11, inside their cabin, begging them to call the emergency services.
The bear bit into his head just as his wife ran out, activating the motion-sensitive outside lights and scaring it off.
John, a councillor in Bellevue City, east of Seattle, yesterday praised his wife Lynn for saving his life.
He revealed how she made a desperate call to the emergency services - in which John can be heard in the background saying: "I'm dying."
Lynn said of the attack: "I thought it was a big black dog. When I got down there my reaction was just to stay on the phone and tell them what was going on.
Read more:
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