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 riding along the scenic Transfagarasan road in the Argeș region on Thursday when he stopped his motorcycle near a bear he had spotted on the roadside. According to Armand Chiriloiu, director of the Argeș Forestry Directorate, speaking to Romanian outlet Observator News, Zin got off his bike and offered the bear food — despite signs posted along the road, in both Romanian and English, warning tourists not to feed the animals.
What Happened
The bear — a mother with cubs nearby — attacked Zin and dragged him down a ravine with an elevation drop of around 262 feet (80 meters), according to the BBC. Other motorcyclists at the scene witnessed the attack and alerted emergency services.
“Unfortunately, he was already dead when we arrived,” Ion Sanduloiu, head of the Argeș County Mountain Rescue Service, told the BBC. “The injuries were extremely severe. Even though he was wearing a helmet and full protective gear, it wasn’t enough.”
Rescue teams reported that the bear remained agitated and followed them during the recovery effort. She was later tracked and shot dead by local hunters.
Warning Signs Before the Attack
In the days before his death, Zin had shared photos and video on Facebook showing close encounters with bears along the same road — including a selfie with a bear cub and footage of himself riding his motorcycle past a bear standing at the roadside, narrating, “Here’s the bear. How beautiful. It’s coming towards me.”
Zin, who lived in Samarate, Italy, and had recently worked at Milan Malpensa Airport, was remembered by friends as an adventurous travel enthusiast. Tributes on social media described him as well-liked and warm.
A Growing Pattern in Romania
This is not an isolated case. Romania has the largest brown bear population in the European Union — estimated at between 10,000 and 13,000 animals — and bear-related incidents have been rising as the population grows and habitat pressures push bears closer to roads and towns.
- In July 2024, a 19-year-old woman was killed by a bear in the Bucegi Mountains while hiking.
- A few months earlier, a 72-year-old tourist from Scotland was attacked in Argeș county after rolling down her car window to photograph a bear.
- Romania’s environment ministry estimates nearly 30 people have been killed by bears in the country over the past two decades.
In response, Romanian lawmakers have previously raised the annual bear culling quota, an approach that remains controversial among conservationists who argue habitat protection and public education are more sustainable long-term solutions than culling.
Why Feeding Wild Bears Is So Dangerous
Wildlife experts consistently point to the same core problem: bears that associate humans with food lose their natural wariness, making close, unpredictable encounters far more likely. A bear that has been fed once often returns to roads looking for more, putting the next tourist — and the bear itself — at far greater risk.
If you’re traveling through bear country, wildlife rangers and mountain rescue services generally recommend:
- Never stop to feed or approach a bear, regardless of how calm it appears
- Stay in or near your vehicle if you encounter one on a roadside
- Keep a substantial distance — bears can move far faster than they appear able to
- Report sightings to local rangers rather than lingering to photograph the animal at close range
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did the bear attack even though Zin was feeding it? Wildlife experts note that feeding wild bears doesn’t make them safer to approach — it removes their natural fear of humans and can trigger defensive attacks, especially from a mother protecting cubs, as appears to have been the case here.
Is Romania’s bear population actually a safety risk to residents? Forestry officials have said Romania’s mountainous terrain can naturally support around 4,000 bears, well below the current estimated population, which experts cite as a factor in bears increasingly wandering into populated and tourist areas.
What should I do if I encounter a bear while traveling in bear country? Stay calm, keep your distance, avoid direct eye contact or sudden movements, and never offer food — most wildlife agencies recommend backing away slowly rather than running.
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