Kuffa: She-bear Involved in Attack Near Turany Shot Dead

Turany, 10 August (TASR) - A female bear that attacked a 42-year-old man near the village of Turany (Zilina region) on Sunday (9 August) has been put down, Environment Ministry State Secretary Filip Kuffa announced on social media on Monday. "The she-bear that mauled a man near Turany has been shot dead," stated Kuffa. The man was found injured near the exit from the D1 motorway at Turany on Sunday evening, with the nature of his injuries suggesting that he may have been attacked by a bear. Suffering polytrauma and injuries to his chest and head, he was taken to hospital in Martin (Zilina region) by a rapid medical response unit. Juraj Ziak from the Fatra Brown Bear Intervention Team told TASR that a search for the dangerous animal was launched in cooperation with volunteer firefighters from the nearby village of Sucany (Zilina region). "Two unmanned drones equipped with thermal imaging were deployed to monitor the area. Thanks to this technology, the she-bear and her two cubs were located within a short time," said Ziak. He added that the immediate threat to people living near transport infrastructure prompted the intervention team to take swift action to eliminate the female bear and both cubs safely. "A subsequent examination revealed that the female bear had extremely worn-down teeth, suggesting that it was of advanced age and may have struggled to find food in the wild," added Ziak. jrg