In the central part of Slovakia, the body of a 59-year-old man wanted from Sunday afternoon was found. He was most likely attacked by a bear – the police and the State Guard of Nature Conservation said on Monday. The circumstances of the autopsy are to confirm the circumstances of the tragedy.
The body of the 59-year-old was found in the Desna poviat in central Slovakia. The man from Sunday evening was wanted by mountain rescuers, policemen and forest guards. About 40 people were looking for him. His corpse was found in forest thickets, outside the protected area, about a kilometer from inhabited areas.
The cause of death will be determined by the autopsy
“External injuries were visible on the man's body, and the exact cause of his death can be objectively determined only after the autopsy was carried out,” police officers said.
If the autopsy confirms that the victim has died as a result of a bear attack, this will be the first such case in 2025 and the third in recent years.
How to behave during a bear meeting?
When we encounter a bear in the forest, it is better to be very careful. Here are the rules to remember:
- Go quietly and calmly. Do not run so that the bear does not treat you like a prey. Do not go to the tree either, because the bear does it much better.
- If you come across a young one, withdraw especially carefully. There may be a female nearby, who can be very dangerous in their defense.
- Do not feed the bear, do not leave the remains of food or packaging that may interest them. Bears are particularly dangerous when feeding.
- Do not approach them to take a picture or record a movie. Flash flash or lighting with a flashlight can irritate them.
- If you stand eye to the bear, gently tear the backpack's hip belt to be able to lose it – it may interest the predator. However, do not perform violent movements and control his behavior. Don't look in his eyes.
- It is particularly dangerous when the bear is watching you and has his ears to the back. Then be particularly cautious, do not make violent movements, withdraw very slowly.
- If the bear does not lose your interest in you, gently lie down on the ground, the leg crash, cut your neck and face with your hands. In most cases, he will leave you alone, in the worst case – he should scratch at most.
Brown bearPAP/Maciej Zieliński
Source of the main photo: Shutterstock