Motorcyclist Fatally Mauled by Bear After Being Pulled Down Steep Ravine

A motorcyclist is dormant aft he was mauled to decease by a carnivore successful a upland scope successful Romania, according to reports.

On Thursday, July 3, nan personification was killed successful a carnivore onslaught successful nan Carpathian Mountains, Reuters, nan BBC and The Independent reported. 

The man parked his motorcycle adjacent to a motion that urged visitors to not provender nan bears earlier he was dragged by nan animal down a valley pinch a 262-foot drop, according to nan BBC.

“Unfortunately, he was already dormant erstwhile we arrived," Ion Sanduloiu, nan leader of Arges County Mountain Rescue Service, told nan outlet. 

​​"The injuries were highly severe,” he continued, according to nan BBC. “Even though he was wearing a helmet and afloat protective gear, it wasn't enough.”

An investigation is ongoing. The Romanian Police did not instantly respond to PEOPLE’s petition for comment. 

A celebrated tourer destination, nan Carpathian Mountains are location to brownish bears. Romania has nan largest organization of nan type successful Europe extracurricular of Russia, The Guardian reported.

In a study published by nan country’s forestry investigation institute earlier this year, nan agency said that Romania whitethorn person arsenic galore arsenic 13,000 brownish bears, almost double erstwhile estimates, according to nan outlet.

Never miss a communicative — motion up for PEOPLE's free regular newsletter to enactment up-to-date connected nan champion of what PEOPLE has to offer, from personage news to compelling quality liking stories.

Over nan past 2 decades, brownish bears person killed 26 group and injured almost 300 others, starring nan authorities to authorize nan sidesplitting of much bears past year, The Guardian reported.

The bears are protected by Romanian law, but immoderate citizens and officials are pushing for much to beryllium culled, nan BBC reported.

Others impulse for nan conservation of nan bears’ habitat, and location was moreover a sanctuary, Libearty Bear Sanctuary, created for them successful Zarnesti, according to nan outlet.

Either way, erstwhile encountering a bear, information precautions request to beryllium taken. The National Park Service successful nan United States urges group to support their region from bears and not astonishment them. The agency besides provides a database of tips if a carnivore brushwood occurs.

"We cannot unrecorded unsocial [in nan wilderness]," Cristina Lapis, nan sanctuary founder, told nan BBC. "We person to study to share."