A 45-year-old woman was seriously injured after she was attacked by a sloth bear while working at a tea estate near Thangadu, at Balacola, in the Nilgiris on late Thursday evening.

Forest Department officials identified the victim as B. Leela.

The victim was plucking tea leaves when a sloth bear hiding in the tea estate pounced on her.

Hearing her screams, other workers rushed to her aid and managed to chase away the bear.

But Ms. Leela suffered serious injuries and had to be admitted to the Government Headquarters Hospital in Udhagamandalam for treatment.

Cage to trap leopard

Forest officials from the Nilgiris North Division said that forest guards were stationed in the area to ensure that the bear did not attack anyone.

Forest officials said cages had been placed to trap a leopard that was reportedly seen preying on goats and wild cattle around two weeks ago.

Videos of the leopard snatching a goat went viral, following which the department deemed it necessary to try and trap the animal.

However, with the animal not being captured till date, officials believe that the carnivore was passing through a part of its range, and could have moved away to a different location.

They said that there have been no more reported instances of cattle-lifting in the area, but are still monitoring the location for signs of the animal and will call off the search once forest officials are confident that there is no more threat to the safety of humans and their cattle.