A man has tragically lost his life after being attacked by a bear in Romania's beautiful mountain area. The incident occurred while he was riding his motorcycle and paused at a popular tourist stop along the famous Transfagarasan road. The bear dragged the man down a steep ravine, and rescue officials confirmed he was already deceased upon their arrival. Despite wearing a helmet and protective gear, authorities noted the injuries were catastrophic.
The head of the Arges County Mountain Rescue Service, Ion Sanduloiu, urged visitors to heed warning signs and avoid feeding or approaching bears. While the bear involved has not yet been euthanized, an investigation is currently underway. Romania possesses the largest brown bear population in the EU, with a population estimate ranging from 10,400 to 12,800. This has resulted in increased and often dangerous interactions between humans and bears, making the need for better wildlife management more urgent.
Calls for improved regulations and preventive measures are growing louder, as many conservationists argue that the real issue lies in mismanagement, rather than overpopulation. Gabriel Paun, founder of the NGO Agent Green, highlighted the need for more effective measures to encourage safe interactions between wildlife and humans. Local authorities are pushing for stricter penalties for those who disregard safety protocols around bears in order to prevent more tragedies on roads like Transfagarasan.
