An eco-activist in Poland has been attacked by a bear while attempting to prove that the animal’s lair had been abandoned due to logging. The German activist was airlifted to a hospital and is currently in a serious but stable condition. The incident occurred when the activist, accompanied by another member of the Wild Carpathians Initiative, went to inspect the area to determine if it had been affected by logging. Despite expecting the lair to be empty, the bear pursued them through the woods, ultimately mauling the activist after he stumbled and fell.
Footage of the bear attacking the activists was captured by a camera set up to monitor the lair and was later shared online by Michał Gzowski, a spokesperson for the Polish forestry service. Gzowski described the incident as an “irony of fate” and pointed out that the activists, who had previously been critical of forestry workers, were now being saved by them. He even questioned whether they deserved a Darwin Award, a satirical prize for individuals who meet their demise in foolish ways.
The Wild Carpathians Initiative acknowledged their mistake in disturbing the bear, especially considering it was preparing to hibernate in the Bieszczady Mountains. The spokesperson also highlighted a previous attack on a forester in the same area, criticizing the forestry service for failing to prevent further deforestation. Greenpeace’s Marek Józefiak echoed this sentiment, accusing officials of not doing enough to protect the Carpathian mountains. He claimed that only 3% of the forest was adequately safeguarded, while the rest was subject to logging or construction.
According to recent monitoring conducted by a campaigning organization, up to 40 trucks carrying timber leave the region daily via one of the routes leading out of the Carpathians. This further highlights the ongoing destruction of the forest. It is evident that there is a pressing need for better protection measures and conservation efforts in Poland, particularly in the Carpathian mountains where a significant population of bears resides.
