THE JHARKHAND STORY NETWORK
Daltonganj, June 9: In Palamu’s forests, deer often wander into villages in search of water, while bears are drawn by the lure of ripe jackfruits. Yet, while the sight of a deer tempts poachers, a bear’s presence sends humans indoors. One evokes fear, the other embodies it.
In a rare display of harmony, a bear and her two cubs have struck an unusual bond with a tribal family in Chetma village, located within the Bareysarn range of the Palamu Tiger Reserve (PTR). The animals have been visiting the family’s compound almost every evening for the past five days.
Forester-in-charge Paramjeet Tiwary said, “c, 68, a resident of Chetma, has a new visitor— a bear with her two cubs.”
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Minz, a retired tracker from the Palamu Tiger Reserve, possesses a deep understanding of wildlife. He knows exactly how to behave around the visiting bear, especially since cubs are involved. Remarkably, the bear shows no aggression toward Minz’s family or their domestic animals—dogs, cats, chickens, and pigs.
The attraction is a large jackfruit tree in Minz’s compound. The mother bear climbs the tree and skillfully selects ripe jackfruits, dropping one or two for her cubs below. Once the fruit is on the ground, the bear descends, and the trio feasts together on the jackfruit pods— a delicacy for bears.
Bears can expertly rip open jackfruits, consuming the pods with precision and without causing waste. Unlike humans, they suffer no ill effects or gastroenteritis from eating the fruit.
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Though generally calm during these visits, the bear remains protective when her cubs are near. Any sudden human movement or presence can trigger suspicion, as wildlife instinctively distrusts humans more than the other way around.
For now, the tribal family expects their wild visitors to keep coming as long as the jackfruits last. Once the fruiting season ends, the bears will likely turn their attention to other natural treats.