Bear attacks runner in Slovak Paradise: first such case in park

A bear has attacked a runner in Slovak Paradise National Park. According to the park administration, this is the first conflict of this kind between a bear and a visitor on the park’s tourist trails. The park reported the incident on social media.

The runner was moving quickly and quietly, so the bear probably had no time to react and avoid the encounter. “The bear reacted defensively, out of natural instinct, to a runner moving fast and quietly, and then ran away from the spot,” the park said.

The bear has not lost its caution

The brown bear response team “East” was sent to the scene immediately. It was established that the animal had not behaved problematically before and had not lost its natural caution. According to the park administration, it most likely wandered into this part of the park from inaccessible areas of Slovak Paradise, where bears usually live without contact with tourists.

The investigation of the incident is continuing. Conservationists promise to inform the public of any significant new findings.

Around Prague, based on reporting by novinky.cz