Motorcyclist killed in bear attack on Romania’s Transfăgărășan mountain road

Update: The motorcyclist killed by a bear on the Transfăgărășan had gotten off his bike to feed and photograph the animal, according to details from the investigation quoted by Digi24. Authorities found several photos of the bear and a video on the man's phone. The wild animal was identified and shot.

However, the tragedy highlights the real danger tourists face when ignoring official warnings. Signs are posted along the Transfăgărășan, but they are often ignored by tourists.

Initial story: A motorcyclist was killed by a bear on the Transfăgărășan mountain road in a tragic incident near a hotel at the Vidraru dam, News.ro reported. The victim’s body was recovered from a ravine and transported to the Institute of Legal Medicine for examination.

The motorcyclist was reportedly part of a group traveling from Vidraru towards Bâlea Lake. According to Tvrinfo.ro, they stopped at the side of the road, when they were attacked by a bear. One of the group members was dragged towards the Vidraru area by the wild animal.

According to media reports, the motorcycle, found abandoned on the roadside, has Italian license plates.

An investigation is underway, with firefighters, gendarmes, and police officers present at the scene. Authorities also issued a RO-ALERT warning to locals, as the bear involved has not yet been located.

Bear encounters are not unusual in mountain areas of Romania, as the country is home to a large population of brown bears. In April, the Ministry of Environment shared the preliminary results of a study estimating the brown bear population to be between 10,419 and 12,770.

Reacting to the fatal incident, the National Forestry Authority, Romsilva, said on social media that the Arefu Hunting Fund 5, where the incident took place, “is managed by the Argeș Forestry Directorate and, according to the official assessment from this spring, has a population of 112 bears, compared to an estimated optimal number of 25.”