This is an archive article published on November 25, 2024
After success with elephants, Himachal forest dept uses solar device to repel bears amid rising attacks in Rampur
The Himachal Pradesh Forest and Wildlife Department has asked residents to strengthen their cow sheds by installing sturdy doors, fences, and other protective measures.
4 min readShimlaUpdated: Nov 25, 2024 07:06 PM IST
A captured sub-adult bear cub in the Shahdhar village; a
solar-powered ANIDERS installed in the Rampur forest division; Khepi Ram shows the scars of a bear attack on his chest.
As human-wildlife conflict intensifies in the Rampur forest division of Shimla, the Himachal Pradesh Forest and Wildlife Department has adopted two key strategies to mitigate the issue. First, the installation of a solar-powered system to repel wild animals away. Second, encouraging residents to strengthen their cow sheds by installing sturdy doors, fences, and other protective measures.
In the past one-and-a-half months, around two dozen cows have been killed, and three people, including one woman, injured in various bear attacks reported across villages in the Rampur forest division.
Gurharsh Singh, Divisional Forest Officer (DFO), Rampur, told The Indian Express how the solar-powered device, Animal Intrusion Detection and Repellent System (ANIDERS), works.
“ANIDERS is installed in areas prone to human-wildlife conflicts, particularly where crops are frequently raided by wild animals. When an animal comes within its radar, the device flashes lights and sounds a sharp alarm, scaring the animal away. In Himachal Pradesh, it has successfully prevented human-elephant conflicts in the Paonta Sahib area, which borders Kalesar National Park in Haryana and Rajaji National Park in Uttarakhand, areas from which wild elephants often venture into Paonta Sahib.”
“Rampur forest division is the second location in the state where this device has been installed. We have deployed two devices, and if they prove as effective as in Paonta Sahib, more will be installed,” added Singh.
Singh said that after every conflict, the forest teams visit the victims and the locations where domestic livestock was attacked. “Our field investigations revealed that all the cow sheds where attacks occurred had weak wooden doors fastened with either a rope, a single chain, or just a wooden stick wedged in place. Additionally, conflicts increase before the winter season, as bears prepare for hibernation by storing fat, leading to an uptick in attacks on livestock,” he said.
Mahinder Singh, pradhan of Shahdhar gram panchayat, said, “We have started urging villagers to strengthen the doors of their cow sheds to prevent attacks on their livestock. Cow sheds are typically constructed either in fields or beneath houses in hilly areas. We are also appealing to the government to provide financial assistance for building new cow sheds and installing fences for those that were attacked recently.”
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Talking to The Indian Express, Khepi Ram, 65, a resident of the Bathara village and one of the three victims of a bear attack, recounted his ordeal: “A bear broke into my cowshed, which was below my house, by breaking the wooden door. It attacked me with its claws on my head and chest on the night of October 23. I was rushed to a local hospital, profusely bleeding. It will take me three weeks to recover fully. Two other victims, Lachi Ram and Jina Devi, were attacked while working in their orchard. Jina Devi sustained injuries requiring 12 stitches on her stomach. These two attacks were reported in Rangori village near Rampur.”
Sub-adult bear cub captured, released into the wild later
Investigations by the wildlife wing revealed that a sow (female bear) nursing her two sub-adult cubs was prowling in five villages under one of the Shahdhar gram panchayats. A cage was installed in the Shahdhar village to capture the bear. However, on November 18, one of her sub-adult cubs was caught instead. Following due procedure, the captured cub was released into the wild, and efforts are ongoing to determine whether it has reunited with its mother.
A wildlife officer in Shimla said, “None of the human-wildlife conflicts were direct attacks by the bear. In all three cases, humans either came too close to the animal or obstructed its escape path, forcing it to confront them.”
A forest department source said, “The decision to release the captured subadult was taken because the cub was found fit to survive in the wild. Besides this, reports emerged that the sow (female bear) was sighted in the area in search of her cub. Between the capturing and releasing of the cub, we did our best not to leave any human footprints on the cub in captivity.”
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
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