Bear to be shot after man found dead

A rescue vehicle belonging to the Mountain Rescue Voluntary Service (GOPR) near the site where the man's body was discovered in the Bieszczady Mountains. Photo: PAP/Darek Delmanowicz

The dead man was found on Monday after two members of a rescue team were allegedly attacked by a bear on Sunday evening.

“According to initial findings, the wounds found on the victim's body indicate that he may have died after being attacked by a predator,” commented police spokesperson Katarzyna Fechner.

“However, this will only be verified after the autopsy by doctors,” she stressed.

The 61-year-old, a resident of the village of Olszanica, had been reported missing on Saturday.

40 members of the Bieszczady branch of Poland's Mountain Rescue Voluntary Service (GOPR) took part in the search.

On Sunday evening, two volunteers were attacked while driving a quad through the area.

“The rescuers abandoned the vehicle and fled,” commented GOPR member Krzysztof Szczurek.

“The predator then set about destroying the quad, turning the vehicle upside down and ripping the tyres.”

GOPR has stressed that this is the first such incident in the Bieszczady region in 50 years.

Likewise, WWF spokesman Pawel Sredzinski has noted that “bears are generally not aggressive towards humans,” adding that such incidents can occur when the animal is “under stress.” (nh)

Source: PAP/IAR