The tragic incident occurred on Saturday afternoon in the Vitosha Mountains, located just a half-hour drive from Sofia. According to police reports, the man was found near a road between two mountain huts at an elevation of 2,295 meters. He was 35 years old and was attacked by a bear accompanied by a cub, as assumed by a forensic expert and a wildlife specialist.
The Vitosha Mountains are a popular destination for hikers and are home to numerous wild animals, including about a dozen brown bears. This fatal incident is unusual in Bulgaria, as the last deadly bear attack occurred in 2010 in the Rhodopes. In contrast, incidents involving brown bears are more frequent in the northern neighboring country of Romania.
Eyewitnesses reported that the man had tried in vain to defend himself with a stick. The body was discovered on Saturday, and the circumstances of the attack raise questions about safety in popular hiking areas. It is estimated that between 300 and 500 brown bears live in Bulgaria, primarily in other mountain ranges across the country.
The authorities are now under pressure to take measures to ensure the safety of hikers. The incident has raised concerns and could lead to a review of safety precautions in hiking areas.
This deadly attack serves as a reminder that encounters with wildlife in their natural habitats always carry risks. Authorities must ensure that hikers are informed about the dangers and take appropriate measures to prevent such incidents in the future.
