In Slovakia, a man’s encounter with a brown bear ends in death. The tragic incident raises questions about how to deal with the predators.
Hybe – In Europe, most predators have long since disappeared from the forests. They only find a habitat in a few places. Encounters between bears and people are correspondingly rare. In Slovakia, such a collision was fatal. A 55-year-old man, accompanied by another person, went into the forest to look for mushrooms when he was suddenly attacked by a bear.
Mushroom hunter is attacked by bear: rescue helicopter and emergency paramedics on duty
The mushroom pickers were in a forest near the village of Hybe in the east of the country, in an area that is difficult to access. As the Picturenewspaper reports, the man was surprised and unexpectedly attacked by the bear. The emergency services were alerted immediately, but the operation turned out to be difficult. Finally, a rescue helicopter brought over an emergency paramedic who was lowered down to the seriously injured man.
Despite the quick response, any help came too late for the mushroom picker. “During the attack, the bear struck one of the main arteries of the man’s lower extremities, causing severe bleeding and cardiac arrest,” the rescue workers’ report said. The man died from his injuries at the scene of the attack.
Largest predator on land in Europe: There are still around 17,000 brown bears
The brown bear is the largest land-based predator in Europe. According to the WWF, there are a total of around 17,000 brown bears in Europe, most of which are native to the Carpathians. The largest population is in Russia, and estimates are around 1,300 animals in Slovakia. Dealing with brown bears is hotly debated in Slovakia. There is disagreement about whether the animals should be released for killing.
In recent years there have also been clashes between bears and people in Italy. In Germany, the brown bear has been considered extinct since the 19th century. In this country, however, there is a discussion about the wolf, because some Wolves exhibit “disturbing behavior” and even attack children. (kiba)
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