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Teen Attacked and Killed by Bear in Front of Boyfriend While on Hiking Trip in Romania

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Author Linnea H, BSc Sociology

Maria Diana, 19. Jam Press

A hiking trip turned fatal for Maria Diana, 19, who was attacked by a bear in the Bucegi mountains, Romania.

Phone Call to Emergency Services

Teen Mauled to Death by Bear in Front of Boyfriend While on Hiking Trip
The bears responsible of the attack. Jam Press

Ms. Diana was on the phone with emergency services when the bear grabbed her leg and dragged her off a 400-foot cliff.

Rescuers’ Account of the Incident

Teen Mauled to Death by Bear in Front of Boyfriend While on Hiking Trip
Romania’s President address the issue. The New York Post.

Rescuers reported that her injuries were “incompatible with life,” as the bear had been circling her body when they arrived.

Witness Testimony

Maria Diana, 19. Jam Press

Maria’s boyfriend, who remained unharmed, witnessed the horrifying attack and tried to scare the bear away.

The Bear’s Unusual Behavior

Prime Minister of Romania address the issue. The New York Post.

Experts described the bear’s aggressive behavior as unusual, noting that bears typically attack when threatened or seeking food.

Rescuers’ Response

Bears
Brown Bears in an open-air enclosure at the National Park Bavarian Forest. Aconcagua, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Rescuers shot the bear after it tried to attack them while they were recovering Ms. Diana’s body.

Local Authorities’ Statements

brown bear
Image by Frank Vassen on Wikimedia Commons

Dan Banu, head of the local mountain rescue service, described the terror in Maria’s voice during the emergency call.

Details of the Attack

grizzly bear vs. brown bear
Brown bear. Image by Frank Vassen from Brussels, Belgium, CC BY 2.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

The bear dragged Maria into vegetation before she fell into a chasm, followed by the bear.

President of Salvamont Romania’s Comments

Close up portrait of adult male Brown Bear on a snow-covered swamp in the spring forest. Eurasian brown bear (Ursus arctos arctos)

Sabin Corniou emphasized the need to investigate the cause of the bear’s abnormal behavior.

Wild Animal Specialist’s Insight

brown bear (ursus arctos) in a forest landscape

Carmen Strungaru suggested that Maria might have fallen into the abyss while trying to escape, with the bear following.

Romania’s Bear Population

Boy attack bear
Brown bears are among the largest terrestrial carnivores. Image via Pexels

Romania hosts Europe’s largest brown bear population, with estimates up to 8,000 bears outside of Russia.

The Boyfriend’s Reflection

brown bear cub
By Kandukuru Nagarjun from Bangalore, India – Bear cub wades, CC BY 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=137329768

Maria’s boyfriend expressed his regret, wishing he could have taken her place during the tragic incident.

Impact on the Community

Most Bear-Infested Forests
Brown Bear (Ursus arctos) swimming in a river. Image via Depositphotos

The incident has shocked the local community, highlighting the dangers of wildlife encounters in hiking areas.

Safety Measures in Hiking Areas

Ruling the landscape, brown bears of Kamchatka (Ursus arctos beringianus)

Authorities are urging hikers to be cautious and aware of their surroundings, especially in areas with high wildlife activity.

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