A black bear attacked and seriously injured a man in the Hangrai area of Balakot tehsil before fleeing back into its natural habitat in the nearby alpine forests.
Malik Amir, who serves as the Sub-Divisional Officer for the Balakot Wildlife Department, told reporters on Tuesday that the animal came down to a populated area and left a resident injured.
The victim was identified as Taj Mohammad, who was targeted after the beast sneaked out of the nearby alpine forest that serves as its natural habitat.
Hospital staff at the Tehsil Headquarters Hospital in Balakot treated the wounded man and administered the rabies vaccine after he was transferred there.
Malik Amir stated that the wildlife department already initiated awareness sessions alongside safety measures for indigenous communities.
Following the attack, a team went to the location and spoke with locals, telling them to avoid agricultural fields close to Nadi forest because black bears and common leopards live there.
He noted that black bears look for maize crops and frequently wander into farming areas looking for food, which leads them to attack anyone crossing their path.
