MANSEHRA: A black bear attacked and seriously injured a man in the Hangrai area of Balakot tehsil before fleeing into its natural habitat in the nearby alpine forests.

“The black bear came down to a populated area and attacked a man, leaving him injured,” Malik Amir, Balakot wildlife department’s sub-divisional officer (SDO), told reporters on Tuesday.

He said the black bear sneaked into the populated area from the nearby alpine forest that provides a natural habitat for the animal and injured a resident, Taj Mohammad.

Mr Amir said the injured man was shifted to the Tehsil Headquarters Hospital, Balakot, where doctors provided him with medical treatment and rabies vaccine.

He said the wildlife department had already launched awareness sessions with indigenous communities and taken measures to ensure their safety. “A team also visited the area following the incident and met residents, advising them to stay away from agricultural fields near Nadi forest, which is home to black bears and common leopards,” he said.

The SDO said black bears were attracted to maize crops and often entered agricultural fields in search of food, and when people crossed their paths, the animals could attack and injure them.

Published in Dawn, October 21st, 2026