BEAR RESCUED AFTER GETTING BLUE BARREL STUCK ON HEAD
WITH PIX AND VID
By Shuk Yee Tsang
A young brown bear was rescued after being found wandering blindly through the forest with a blue barrel stuck on her head.
The dramatic incident took place at Hipparion Trails in Gheorgheni, Romania, where the distressed female bear, around two and a half years old, stumbled onto the property during one of the centre’s tours.
Witnesses said the bear, unable to see or breathe properly, ran into fences and trees as she tried to free herself.
Staff immediately alerted veterinarians, rangers, and wildlife agencies, but due to the remote mountain terrain, help took time to arrive.
Tour guide Elöd and staff member Arpad spent hours tracking the animal until rangers equipped with night-vision cameras finally located her.
The barrel was so tightly wedged that it had to be carefully sawed off.
The rescue, which was fully funded by Hipparion Trails, ended successfully when the bear ran safely back into the forest by morning.
Katrin Heigle on behalf of Hipparion Trails said: “During one of our tours, our guests and a guide encountered a young female brown bear,
“Approximately 2.5 years old, wandering onto our property with a barrel stuck on her head.
"Completely blinded by the barrel, the bear ran repeatedly into fences, trees, and other obstacles, causing damage and clearly struggling to breathe and move.
“Recognizing the immediate danger to the bear, we quickly contacted authorities, veterinarians, and wildlife agencies.
" Unfortunately, due to the remote mountain location of our property, help was slow to arrive.
“Our tour guide Elöd and staff member Arpad tirelessly assisted in the search, and eventually, two rangers equipped with night-vision cameras were able to locate the bear.
"The barrel was tightly stuck and had to be carefully removed with a saw.
“The rescue was successful, and the bear disappeared safely the following morning.
" We have not seen her since, and we trust she will continue to avoid human contact.
“This operation was fully funded by us, as official authorities were unable to provide support.
"We are grateful to have been able to help save this young bear and ensure her safety.”
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