KOTGARH (SHIMLA), May 13: Farmers across several panchayats in Kotgarh, a prominent fruit-growing belt in Shimla district, are grappling with repeated bear intrusions that have led to significant crop damage and fear of direct encounters with the wild animals.
Locals say the black bears are not only devouring apple, cherry, plum, almond, and apricot crops, but also toppling entire trees in the process. “We are living in constant fear,” said Rajeev Chauhan, pradhan of Shamathla gram panchayat.
“There are a lot of bears around our villages. They come to our orchards to feed, and sometimes they bring down full-grown trees, which causes serious losses.”
To protect their produce, residents often stay out in the orchards well into the night. “Bears usually come after dark,” Chauhan added. “Many of us stay till midnight bursting crackers to drive them away.”
The situation has raised concerns beyond property damage. Human-bear encounters, though infrequent, have occurred. Kapoor Jistu, a resident of the area, recounted a past incident.
“About two years ago, a bear attacked a local youth who had to undergo a major surgery. On another occasion, a bear family entered someone’s home—fortunately, no one was inside at the time.”
In addition to threatening human safety, the bears have also attacked livestock. “Around two years ago, they began entering cowsheds,” Chauhan said. “At least 10 to 15 cows were injured before people fortified their sheds to prevent further attacks.”
According to Ajay Kumar, Range Officer with the Forest Department, the area’s year-round availability of fruit at different altitudes has contributed to the growing presence of black bears. “Bears are attracted to ripe fruit, and they can detect it from far distances,” he explained.
The Forest Department has responded by placing cages in Dalan gram panchayat and advising villagers on deterrent strategies.
“We regularly update panchayat heads on preventive steps like installing solar fencing, keeping guard dogs, and using other means to scare off bears,” Kumar said.
“A multi-pronged approach is needed to address the problem effectively.”
As fruit season peaks and human activity in orchards intensifies, residents remain on edge, balancing agricultural duties with the need to protect themselves and their livelihoods from increasingly frequent bear encounters.
