Scottish Tourist Attacked by Bear in Romania While Taking Photo

A 72-year-old Scottish tourist was attacked by a brown bear in Romania on Monday while attempting to take a photograph of the animal through her car window. Moira Gallacher was traveling with her friend Charmian Widdowson on the Transfagarasan mountain road in the Carpathian Mountains when they encountered a mother bear and her cub on the roadside.

According to Widdowson, Gallacher rolled down the car window to capture a better picture of the bears. The mother bear then reared up on its hind legs, reached into the vehicle, and bit down on Gallacher's right hand and arm. "The bear came very close and ended up biting her hand," Widdowson recounted. "I thought the bear wanted to be friends and eat with us."

Gallacher was rushed to a nearby hospital for medical attention of her injuries. Doctors reported that her condition was stable and her wounds were non-life-threatening. Gallacher credited her thick, padded Marks & Spencer jacket with saving her from more severe harm. "My arm was saved by my padded jacket and tops," she said from her hospital bed.

The incident occurred in an area known for its high concentration of European brown bears, which can grow up to 350kg and move at speeds of 30mph. Romania is home to the largest population of brown bears in Europe, with an estimated 6,000 living in the Carpathian Mountain region. Bears typically emerge from hibernation in March or April.

Why this matters: This attack highlights the growing concerns over human-bear conflicts in Romania, where a rising number of encounters have been reported in recent years as bears are drawn out of the forests in pursuit of food. Between 2016 and 2021, there were 154 bear attacks against humans in Romania, resulting in 14 fatalities.

Following the incident, police organized teams to drive the bears away from the area and advised tourists to keep a safe distance from wild animals. Gallacher, still recovering in the hospital, reflected on her close call with the bear. "I was very, very lucky," she said as the shock of the attack set in. She is expected to be discharged on Wednesday.

Key Takeaways

• 72-year-old Scottish tourist attacked by brown bear in Romania while taking photo
• Bear bit woman's hand and arm, but her padded jacket saved her from severe harm
• Incident occurred in area with high brown bear population, which is rising in Romania
• Between 2016-2021, 154 bear attacks against humans in Romania, resulting in 14 deaths
• Police drove bears away, advised tourists to keep safe distance from wild animals