In Chamba, bear caught on camera ‘relishing barfi’

Chamba, August 21

In a surprising yet amusing incident, a bear was caught on camera relishing ‘barfi’ inside a sweet shop at Jot, a small hilltop village about 25 km from Chamba.

The bear had broken into the shop late Monday night by opening the door.

Human-wildlife conflict

Unfortunately, not all such encounters with bears are as light-hearted. Several bear attacks have been reported across the district this year, highlighting the ongoing human-wildlife conflict in the region.

The shopkeeper, who managed to capture the incident on video, filmed the bear indulging in the sweet treat.

In the 31-second video, the bear is seen eating ‘barfi’ from one of the three platters kept at the shop.

The video, which has since made rounds on social media, shows the shopkeeper hilariously asking the animal, “Hey friend, what is this, what are you doing here?”

Upon hearing the shopkeeper’s voice, the bear runs helter-skelter, smashing the door.

The shopkeeper is again heard asking, “Where are you going?” Forests in Chamba district are home to several wild animal species, including the Himalayan Black Bear and the Himalayan Brown Bear. Black Bears often venture into the habitations in search of food. The Brown Bear is sighted only in the wild, that too rarely, in Kugti wildlife sanctuary in Bharmour and Tundah sanctuary in Pangi subdivisions.

While this encounter ended without any harm as the shopkeeper shot the video from a height, bear sightings and encounters are fairly common in Chamba. Unfortunately, not all such encounters with bears are as light-hearted. Several bear attacks have been reported across the district this year, highlighting the ongoing human-wildlife conflict in the region.

Despite the risks, this particular bear’s sweet tooth provided a moment of levity in an otherwise tense situation.