An Italian motorcyclist has died after being attacked by a bear in Romania’s Carpathian Mountains, just days after he was seen posting images and videos of close encounters with wildlife, including a selfie with a bear cub.
The victim, 49-year-old Omar Farang Zin, was travelling through the mountainous Argeș region on Thursday when he was attacked by a bear that dragged him into a ravine, according to Romanian authorities.
Police and emergency services said in a joint statement that the alarm was raised by other tourists who witnessed the incident. Rescue teams searched the area for around an hour before locating Mr Zin’s body. He was declared dead at the scene.
Social media posts shared by Mr Zin in the days before the attack show him filming and photographing bears at close range. In one image, a large bear appears to be standing very near him, while another shows him smiling during a selfie with a bear cub.
In a separate video, he is heard riding his motorcycle past a bear sitting beside the road. “Here’s the bear,” he says. “How beautiful. It’s coming towards me.”
Romanian authorities later confirmed that the bear involved in the attack was tracked and subsequently put down.
Mr Zin, described by Italian media as a travel enthusiast, had recently been working at Milan Malpensa Airport. Following news of his death, friends and acquaintances paid tribute on social media, remembering him as a friendly and well-liked individual.
One message read: “Goodbye Omar, I will always remember you with a smile.” Another said: “Omar was a great man, he didn’t have to go this way.”
The incident adds to a growing number of bear-related fatalities in Romania. Last year, a 19-year-old woman was killed in the Bucegi Mountains after being attacked by a bear and dragged down a cliff while hiking with her boyfriend.
Romania is estimated to have between 10,000 and 13,000 brown bears, according to a recent DNA-based study. Wildlife encounters are increasingly common in rural and mountainous regions, where authorities continue to face challenges balancing conservation with public safety.
Nearly 30 people have been killed by bears in Romania over the past two decades, according to the environment ministry. Sightings and attacks are frequently reported, particularly in areas close to human settlements.
In response, Romanian lawmakers previously increased the annual bear culling quota in an attempt to manage the population and reduce incidents involving humans.
Experts say rising encounters are linked to human activity, including habitat loss from construction, logging, and climate change, as well as bears being attracted to food waste near towns and tourist routes.
This tragic incident highlights the growing importance of responsible wildlife tourism and comprehensive travel protection when visiting regions with active predator populations. Travelers exploring remote destinations should consider policies that include travel insurance, emergency medical evacuation, accident coverage, and legal liability protection. Authorities and tourism operators are also increasingly focusing on wildlife safety education, environmental conservation measures, and improved emergency response systems to reduce human-wildlife conflict and ensure safer travel experiences in high-risk natural areas.
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