A mushroom picker in Slovakia is surprised and fatally injured by a bear. The incident reignites the debate about how to deal with the predators.
Hybe – Predators are largely no longer found in the forests of Europe. Only a few areas still offer a habitat for them. Encounters between people and bears are therefore the exception. However, in Slovakia such an encounter led to a tragic outcome. A 55-year-old man who went looking for mushrooms in the forest accompanied by another person was suddenly attacked by a bear.
Brown bears in Europe: Fatal incident while hunting for mushrooms in Slovakia
The two were hunting for mushrooms in a difficult-to-access forest near the village of Hybe in the east of the country when the bear surprised the man and attacked. According to a report by the PictureAccording to the newspaper, the rescue workers were alerted immediately, but the operation turned out to be complicated. A rescue helicopter finally flew in an emergency paramedic who was rappelled down to the seriously injured man.
Despite the rapid response, the mushroom picker could no longer be helped. “During the attack, the bear struck one of the main arteries of the man’s lower extremities, causing severe bleeding and cardiac arrest,” according to the rescue team’s report. The man died from his injuries at the scene of the attack.
Fatal bear attack in Slovakia: Mushroom picker becomes victim
The brown bear is the largest land predator in Europe. The WWF estimates that there are a total of around 17,000 brown bears in Europe, with most living in the Carpathians. The largest population lives in Russia, while around 1,300 animals are thought to live in Slovakia. The treatment of brown bears is a controversial issue in Slovakia. There is disagreement about whether the animals should be released for killing.
In recent years there have also been incidents in Italy involving encounters between bears and people. The brown bear has been considered extinct in Germany since the 19th century. In this country, the wolf is the subject of discussion; many people are in favor of shooting the predators, but one man even saved a dying wolf. (kiba)
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