A bear attacked a group of villagers who rescued it from a well just moments after the dramatic operation.
Locals spent several hours trying to rescue two bears that tumbled into the open well and was struggling in the water below.
After painstaking effort, both bears were eventually hauled out.
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But the rescue operation turned to chaos when one bear, apparently driven by fear and stress, charged at the people who saved it.
Phone footage captured the moment the animal spun around and charged at the rescuers, sending them fleeing in all directions.
Screams filled the air as the 300lb bear chased the fleeing locals before disappearing into the nearby woods.
Miraculously, no one was injured in the animal attack in the village of Jagannathpur in Odisha State, India, on Monday (13 Jul).
Wildlife experts said the bear’s reaction, while alarming, is not unusual.
Trapped animals can lash out once freed, driven by fear, disorientation or a surge of adrenaline rather than aggression towards their rescuers.
The authorities urged local residents to leave such operations to trained professionals with the appropriate equipment.
It came days after a separate tragedy in the region, where a young man was fatally mauled by a bear while grazing goats near Mashanipada in Odisha State.
The victim was resting in the shade when the animal – believed to be a female with cubs nearby – attacked without warning, as reported by Need To Know.
Forest officials and police attended the scene and an investigation is ongoing.
The back-to-back incidents have left local communities on edge, highlighting the increase of bear activity near human settlements.
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