Bear panics after container gets stuck over its mouth in Gurez, Indian Army steps in

The Indian Army and Wildlife Department rescued a Great Himalayan Bear in Gurez after a tin container remained stuck over its mouth for four days. The operation pointed out the risks discarded objects pose to a vulnerable Himalayan species now under veterinary care.Bear panics after container gets stuck over its mouth in Gurez, Indian Army steps inAn Indian Army rescue operation in Jammu and Kashmir’s Gurez valley saved a Great Himalayan Bear that had spent four days struggling to survive after a tin container got stuck over its mouth.The bear was spotted in a village near the Line of Control (LoC) in Bandipora, prompting soldiers to begin a search operation along with officials from the Wildlife Department.The animal had been unable to free itself from the container, leaving it in distress and struggling to eat or drink. Given the difficult terrain of the area, soldiers spent hours searching for the bear before eventually locating it.Once they found the animal, the rescue team carefully worked to remove the container from its mouth. The soldiers eventually managed to free the bear, bringing an end to what had been four days of distress for the animal. Watch the video here:Following the rescue, the bear was handed over to the Wildlife Department and taken to a nearby wildlife veterinary centre for medical attention. It underwent an examination and was placed under observation to assess its condition after the ordeal. Officials said the bear would remain under veterinary care until it had fully recovered. Once experts declared it fit, the animal would be released back into its natural habitat.The rescue also brought out the challenges faced by wildlife in the fragile Himalayan ecosystem, where animals can sometimes come into contact with discarded human-made objects. The Great Himalayan Bear is a vulnerable Himalayan species, making the intervention particularly significant.The operation ultimately brought together the Indian Army and the Wildlife Department in an effort to protect an animal that had been left helpless by a seemingly ordinary piece of discarded material.- EndsPublished By: Yashna TalwarPublished On: Aug 13, 2026 17:07 IST