An Italian motorcyclist has died after reportedly stopping to take selfies with bears he encountered in Romania.
According to a report by the Independent, Omar Farang Zin was riding his motorcycle along the Transfagarasan road at the time. The location is famous for its stunning vistas and has even featured on the TV show Top Gear. The outlet cites local authorities, who explain that Zin got off his bike when he encountered a bear. He allegedly tried to feed it, but the animal dragged him into a ravine instead.
The motorcyclist posted several photos and videos to Facebook before the attack. A translated post Zin uploaded reads, “Today the protagonists were the brown bears, but fairytale landscapes. After the Transalpina at the Urdele pass, I traveled the Transfagarasan, also called “Ceausescu’s Folly”. Jeremy Clarkson, famous host of Top Gear, classified it as the most beautiful road in the world.”
Zin also posted multiple videos, including one where he spots a bear a few feet from the road as he rides past.
Authorities Shot The Bear Dead Following The Incident
A translated report by Observator News explains that a driver who witnessed the attack called the authorities. Forty emergency service workers reportedly arrived at the scene, including firefighters and armed rangers. The outlet claims that they found Zin’s body but quickly noticed they were in danger themselves. A female bear was allegedly stalking the rescue team and even attacked them multiple times. Ultimately, authorities decided they had no choice but to shoot the bear.
Armand Chiriloiu, director of the Arges Forestry Directorate, told Observator News, “He got off the bike and gave the bear food. The Italian tourist’s phone was also found in which there are some pictures prior to the attack. With the bear approaching, he was approaching. With pictures.”
The outlet also says that it’s forbidden to feed bears on the road, and signposts warn not to do it. “It says clearly, in Romanian and English, and the illustration is sufficiently suggestive. The entire Transfagarasan is full of such signs, which are constantly ignored by tourists,” a translated statement reads.