Grizzly tale : Minor injured in bear attack in Mansehra

Nine-year-old Kinza Bibi suffered bite wounds on her head, hands and arm

MANSEHRA: A minor was wounded in a bear attack in a village in Jabar Devli union council of Mansehra on Tuesday.

Speaking to the media, Malikbori Panjhol village resident Syed Qasim Shah said his nine-year-old daughter Kinza Bibi, a student of class four, was on her way to school when the incident occurred.

“She was passing through a forest along with her friends when a bear appeared and attacked her,” he said. “My daughter suffered bite wounds on her head, hands and arm.” Shah added, “Fortunately, she was saved by a group of shepherds in the area who had heard her friends screaming for help. They threw stones at the bear to ward him off.”

According to Shah, his daughter fell unconscious and was rushed to a hospital. Kinza Bibi was subsequently discharged and is out of danger.

“The incident has left my daughter and other schoolchildren terrified,” he said. “Many of them are afraid to walk to school alone and insist their parents accompany them.”

Shah urged the wildlife department to take measures to protect villagers from bear attacks.

Earlier in June, two shepherds and four cattle were injured when a bear attacked them in Kaghan Valley. The region has a large number of grey and black bears who usually make their way down to populated areas during winter or if they are searching for food. These bears often end up attacking villagers and cattle.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 21^st, 2015.