Motorcyclist killed by bear in Romanian mountains
A motorcyclist has been killed following a bear attack in Romania’s mountainous Transfagarasan region, authorities have revealed. The man was riding before stopping at the popular tourist area, before the bear dragged him down a steep ravine with an elevation drop of around 80m.
“Unfortunately, he was already dead when we arrived,” head of the Arges County Mountain Rescue Service, Ion Sanduloiu, told the BBC. “The injuries were extremely severe. Even though he was wearing a helmet and full protective gear, it wasn’t enough.” The motorcyclist, Sanduloiu said, had parked is bike next to a sign warning to not feed the bears. “My advice is simple,” he added, “do not stop, do not feed them, and keep your distance.”
The animal has not been euthanised, according to officials. An investigation into the attack is ongoing.
Romania has among the largest number of brown bears of any country in the European Union. Encounters with humans have risen in recent years, including a number of fatal incidents leading to calls for clearer regulations and investment into strategies to prevent them.
Conservationists say the death of the motorcyclist reveals structural issues in the country’s wildlife management.
“The recurring tragedies on the Transfagarasan road are the result of multiple failures,” Gabriel Paun, founder of the environmental NGO Agent Green said, “tourists stopping to interact with wild animals, local authorities not doing enough to drive bears back into the forest, and the national government, particularly the environmental ministry, failing to properly implement the national plan for coexistence between wildlife and humans.”
Agent Green campaigns for wildlife protection against illegal logging. It blames mismanagement rather than overpopulation for the death of the motorcyclist.
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