Bear attacks in Slovakia wound forest worker, trigger safety warnings

A 37‑year‑old forest worker was seriously injured when a bear attacked him in the forest near Starhrad nad Liptovskou Bukovinou, Slovakia. Rescue crews could not use a helicopter because of heavy cloud cover and had to reach the victim on foot, eventually transporting him on stretchers to an ambulance.

The incident is the second bear attack on a person in Slovakia within days. Earlier, a 36‑year‑old man was mauled near the town of Žilina and was hospitalized with multiple injuries. Local authorities have urged residents and tourists to exercise heightened caution in forested areas.

The surge in bear encounters is not limited to Slovakia. In Poland, a 58‑year‑old woman was killed by a bear in the Subcarpathian region, and in Japan a bear entered an automotive parts factory, injuring several workers. Officials in the affected regions are emphasizing the importance of adhering to safety guidelines when in bear habitats.