Two bears were found dead near a sugarcane field at Dukhuguda village in Tentulikhunti block here on Sunday.
The carcasses were spotted by locals who informed the forest personnel. It is suspected that the animals were killed either by poisoning or electrocution to save the sugarcane crop.
However, Assistant Conservator of Forests Biswaraj Panda said the bears could have also died due to stomach infection or food poisoning. “Starvation might be another cause of death,” he said.
He justified by saying that if the animals were electrocuted, there would have been burn injuries, which were not found. “The exact reason behind the death can only be ascertained after autopsy,” he added.