Romania bear attack leaves woman seriously injured

bear attack Covasna wildlife conflict Romania Istvan Fodor

A woman in the village of Zalan, Covasna County, Romania, was seriously injured after being attacked by a bear while walking her son to school. The child managed to escape unharmed by seeking refuge in a neighbor's yard, while the mother attempted to distract the animal to protect him. Although she was not bitten, the bear inflicted deep claw wounds to her hip, arms, and legs, resulting in a fractured pelvis that required emergency surgery.

The incident has sparked intense local backlash. Istvan Fodor, the mayor of Bodoc municipality, criticized the Ministry of Environment for failing to address the increasing frequency of bear sightings in residential areas, orchards, and agricultural fields. Fodor stated that he would take responsibility for shooting any bear that enters the settlement, declaring, “I will not wait to tranquilize and relocate any bear. If a bear appears on the street, in a settlement, it will be shot directly.”

Authorities have set traps in the area to locate the animal, which remains at large. The attack highlights growing concerns regarding the rising bear population in Romania's mountainous regions and its increasing proximity to human settlements.

Entities

Bodoc · Covasna · Covasna County · Istvan Fodor · Ministry of Environment · Zalan

Claims

What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.

[○ 1 SOURCE] Romania is home to Europe’s largest brown bear population, estimated between 10,600 and 12,700 individuals. 444.hu
[● 2 SOURCES] Emergency committees have been unable to locate the bear despite setting traps. 444.hu · demokrata.hu
[● 2 SOURCES] A woman walking her son to school was attacked by a bear in Zalán village. 444.hu · demokrata.hu
[● 2 SOURCES] The victim suffered a broken pelvis and deep wounds to her hip, arm, and leg. 444.hu · demokrata.hu