WATCH: Black Bear Spotted By A Villager Wandering The Paddy Fields Of Sekinchan

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:

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