Animal sightings near human settlements are nothing new. A tiger was spotted by a highway a few months ago, and macaques were entering and attacking residents of a town in Japan last month.
Recently, a 23-second video showing a black bear wandering in a paddy field went viral on social media.
The incident that happened at around 7am was witnessed by a woman who recorded a video of the wild animal moving about behind her house.
The bear was believed to be looking for food in the paddy fields of Ban Canal, Parit 13, Sungai Nibong, on August 29, 2022.
Director of the Department of Wildlife and National Parks (Perhilitan) Selangor, Dennis Ten Choon Yung, said his party through Perhilitan Sabak Bernam rushed to the location after receiving information on the bear and arrived at 8am.
“Monitoring and investigations were then carried out, but the bear was nowhere to be found,” he said.
“We urge local residents to contact us immediately if they see a glimpse of the bear,” he told Berita Harian.
However, there were no untoward incidents, and the bear escaped to a nearby forest.
When wild animals are spotted in urban areas, onlookers usually have three reactions: fear, pity or adoration.
If the animal is nearby people, fear becomes the predominant feeling. However, if the animal is sighted from afar, the typical reaction is pity for it having to look for food in urban areas due to a lack of food in its original habitat.
Netizens are concerned
In the case of this bear, netizens mostly reacted with pity and worry.
They expressed concern over how the bear must be feeling hungry and that this incident may indicate that our forests are declining at an alarming rate.
“A sign that our forests are diminishing,” said a user.
“It’s habitat may have been invaded.”
Another commented, “Poor bear. It’ll die of hunger…”.
“Just eat people for food. Who asks them to cut down the forests,” suggested another netizen.
Watch the full video below:
Beruang berkeliaran dikesan di Sungai NibongSEKINCHAN: Seekor beruang yang dipercayai mencari makanan dikesan berkeliaran di sawah padi Ban Canal, Parit 13, Sungai Nibong, di sini, semalam.Pengarah Jabatan Perlindungan Hidupan Liar dan Taman Negara (Perhilitan) Selangor, Dennis Ten Choon Yung, berkata pihaknya menerusi Perhilitan Sabak Bernam bergegas ke lokasi selepas menerima maklumat itu dan tiba pada jam 8 pagi.Katanya, pemantauan dan siasatan kemudian dilakukan namun tidak menemui kelibat beruang berkenaan."Penduduk setempat diminta supaya segera menghubungi kita sekiranya ternampak kelibat beruang itu," katanya ketika dihubungi, hari ini.Terdahulu, tular di laman sosial menerusi video berdurasi 23 saat memaparkan seekor beruang berwarna hitam berkeliaran di kawasan sawah padi dipercayai sedang mencari makanan.Kejadian kira-kira jam 7 pagi itu disedari seorang wanita yang merakam video pergerakan haiwan liar berkenaan di belakang rumahnya.Bagaimanapun, tiada insiden tidak diingini berlaku dan beruang berkenaan melarikan diri ke kawasan hutan berdekatan.
Berita Harian
Posted by Inforoadblock on Tuesday, August 30, 2022
It is indeed worrying that there have been so many sightings of wild animals near human settlements.
Also read: Rampaging Macaques Terrorise & Attack Residents In Yamaguchi, Japan
