Asiatic black bear found dead with gunshot injuries outside forested area in Shimla

After the Himachal Pradesh Forest and Wildlife Department lodged an FIR, the police launched a probe into the Asiatic black bear's death.

3 min readShimlaUpdated: Apr 7, 2025 02:23 PM IST

Shimla was ranked third with 71 Asiatic black bears, and Kinnaur has the highest number of bears at 90 followed by 76 in Kullu. (Express Photo)

An Asiatic black bear was found dead with at least three bullet wounds Sunday on the outskirts of the Gazta forest range in the Shimla district of Himachal Pradesh, with forest and wildlife department and police officers saying it is a “case of poaching”.

According to officials, a postmortem examination revealed three gunshot injuries with bullet entry and exit marks on the bear’s body found on Theog-Hatkoti Road in the Kotkhai subdivision.

The Forest and Wildlife Department lodged a First Information Report (FIR) under Section 51 of the Wild Life Protection Act, 1971, along with various sections under the Arms Act at the local police station.

“Prima facie, it is a case of poaching wherein suspects didn’t dare to come on the main road while chasing the bear. It appeared that the animal had run away after sensing the danger but was shot dead in the hot chase. It is a dense forest, and in the escape bid, the bear came onto the main road and subsequently succumbed to gunshot injuries. The Gazta forest beat is a dense forest. Although there are some villages around this particular forest bear, there is no human habitation inside the forest,” a forest and wildlife department officer said.

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“Veterinary doctors, who conducted the postmortem of the body, concluded the age of the dead animal to be between 18 months to two years. By the time of this age period, a bear usually gets separated from its mother and family, and roams independently. The spot inspection suggested that the bear fell from the hill side of the forest on the road,” added the officer.

According to sources, the local police have sought details about residents of the area who have been given arms licenses to use guns to protect their crops. “The details were sought in the view of killing of Asiatic black bear. A letter was issued to the local sub-divisional magistrate (SDM) asking to furnish the details of people having gun licenses in the particular area,” said a source.

A team of Ranjeet Kanwar, Range Officer, Forest and Wildlife, Anuksh Thakur, Station House Officer, Kotkhai, and others have been tasked with tracing the culprits. “The investigation is on. We are working on various theories. Prima facie, it is a case of poaching. Veterinary doctors found that no body parts of the animal were missing. The body has been cremated as per the procedures set under the Wild Life Protection Act,” said Thakur.

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In October last year, a comprehensive study conducted by the Zoological Survey of India (ZSI), Kolkata, identified 307 unique black bears in Himachal Pradesh, and estimated the average population of bears as 529 in the state. Shimla was ranked third with 71 Asiatic black bears, and Kinnaur has the highest number of bears at 90 followed by 76 in Kullu.

Saurabh Parashar

Saurabh Parashar is an Assistant Editor at The Indian Express, primarily responsible for the publication’s coverage of Himachal Pradesh. He is a seasoned journalist with over 17 years of experience in print media, specializing in crime, legal affairs, and investigative reporting. Professional Background Education: He holds a Master’s degree in Mass Communication from Guru Jambheshwar University of Science & Technology (Hisar) and a Law degree from Himachal Pradesh University (HPU), Shimla. This legal background significantly informs his reporting on complex judicial and administrative matters. Career Path: Before joining The Indian Express in 2017, he spent 12 years with The Times of India. Core Beats: His primary focus is the socio-political landscape of the hill state, with a specific emphasis on the environment, forest conservation, drug menace (specifically "Chitta"), affairs related to tribal and archaeology and the unique challenges of governance in high-altitude regions. Recent Notable Articles (Late 2025) His recent reporting highlights the critical intersection of policy, law, and social safety in Himachal Pradesh: 1. "Himachal’s battle against Chitta: Why the border areas are most vulnerable" (Late 2025): An investigative look at the transit routes from Punjab and the impact on local youth. 2. "Shimla ropeway clears key hurdle as 820 trees face the axe :According to the Forest Survey of India’s 2021 assessment, 47.21 percent of Shimla’s 5,131 sq km geographical area is under forest cover (Nov 17, 2025). 3. "Himachal to handover 2.7427 ha of non-forest land for Shimla Ropeway: Given the land’s non-forest nature, RTDC and the state will not require permission from MoEFCC" (Nov 18, 2025) 4. "How the centuries-old Jodidara tradition is fading in Himachal’s Trans-Giri region: Jodidara: a form of fraternal polyandry—has long been part of Hatti tribal culture in the Trans-Giri region of Himachal Pradesh and adjoining Uttarakhand. It is believed to have evolved to prevent division of ancestral land and maintain unity among brothers in the harsh, mountainous terrain" (Aug 18, 2025) Legal & Agricultural Affairs "Kisan Sabha hails SC’s setting aside Himachal HC order to remove orchards from forest land" (Dec 18, 2025): Covering a major Supreme Court victory for farmers, where a High Court order to remove fruit-bearing apple orchards was overturned. "Himachal Cabinet nod to new tourism policy; focus on home-stays in tribal areas" (Dec 11, 2025): Detailing the legislative push to decentralize tourism and bring economic benefits to Lahaul-Spiti and Kinnaur. 3. Governance & Environment "Forest rights and development: Why Himachal is seeking more leeway from Centre" (Dec 19, 2025): Reporting on the legal hurdles faced by the state in infrastructure projects due to the Forest Conservation Act. "Cloudbursts and resilience: How Himachal’s remote villages are building back better" (Nov 2025): Following up on the long-term rehabilitation efforts after monsoon-related disasters. Crime especially cyber crimes, crypto currency etc: crypto currency: "Agents in uniform, motivational speeches, lavish parties: How a Himachal crypto con went unnoticed:A serial conman, a ‘Nelson Mandela Nobel Peace Award winner', and retired policemen got together to pull off a Rs 1,740-crore fraud" (Nov 10, 2023) Signature Beats Saurabh is recognized for his tenacious reporting on the state's drug epidemic. His deep familiarity with the topography and tribal culture of Himachal allows him to report from remote locations like Spiti, Pangi, Shillai, which are often overlooked by national media. His legal expertise makes him a primary choice for covering the Himachal Pradesh High Court on issues ranging from local body elections to environmental PILs. X (Twitter): @saurabh_prashar . ... Read More

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