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Romanian Tourist Stands Still as Bear Sniffs His Leg on Transfăgărășan Road
On July 26, 2026, a tourist stopped his car on the Transfăgărășan mountain road in Romania to admire the scenery. A wild brown bear emerged from the nearby forest, approached the man from behind and sniffed his lower leg. The tourist appeared to be looking at his phone and did not move until the bear positioned itself in front of him, after which he rushed back to his vehicle and escaped unharmed.
The encounter was recorded by another driver and the video quickly went viral, attracting more than one million views on social media. Viewers debated the man's reaction; some suggested he stayed motionless to avoid provoking the bear, while others criticized him for apparent inattention. Romanian wildlife officials have repeatedly warned tourists about the risk of close encounters with bears on this popular route, urging people not to feed or approach the animals.
The incident has reignited discussion about tourist safety in bear‑populated areas of the Romanian Carpathians and the responsibility of visitors to follow wildlife guidelines.
Entities
Brown bear · Brown bear (Ursus arctos) · Male tourist · Male tourist (unnamed) · Romania · Romanian Ministry of Environment · Romanian brown bear · Romanian tourist (male) · Romanian wildlife authorities · Transfăgărășan road · tourist · viral video
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Romanian authorities have warned tourists about bear sightings and the illegality of feeding wildlife on the Transfăgărășan route. www.politika.rs
- [● 5 SOURCES] The video went viral, accumulating more than one million views online. news.nextapple.com · pets.ettoday.net · www.jutarnji.hr · www.vecernji.ba · www.politika.rs
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Romania hosts one of Europe’s largest brown‑bear populations, estimated between 10,419 and 12,770 individuals. www.politika.rs
- [● 5 SOURCES] The tourist was standing, apparently looking at his phone, when the bear sniffed his leg. news.nextapple.com · pets.ettoday.net · www.jutarnji.hr · www.vecernji.ba · www.politika.rs
- [● 5 SOURCES] The tourist remained still while the bear was near, then ran to his car after the bear moved in front of him. news.nextapple.com · pets.ettoday.net · www.jutarnji.hr · www.vecernji.ba · www.politika.rs
- [● 5 SOURCES] A wild brown bear approached a tourist on the Transfăgărășan road in Romania on 26 July 2026. news.nextapple.com · pets.ettoday.net · www.jutarnji.hr · www.vecernji.ba · www.politika.rs
- [● 4 SOURCES] Public commentary was split between blaming the tourist’s phone distraction and suggesting he stayed still deliberately to avoid provoking the bear. pets.ettoday.net · www.jutarnji.hr · www.vecernji.ba · www.politika.rs
- [● 5 SOURCES] The incident was captured on video by another tourist. news.nextapple.com · pets.ettoday.net · www.jutarnji.hr · www.vecernji.ba · www.politika.rs