Overview
- The attack occurred in a mountain forest near Hrboltova in the Ruzomberok area as a forester and his son checked a timber stand with a hunting dog.
- A mother brown bear reportedly rushed the forester; he fired in self‑defence, and his son then killed the animal, with the father treated in hospital for bite wounds.
- The family's West Siberian Laika was later found severely injured and died of its wounds.
- Conservation teams located three roughly one‑month‑old cubs nearby in weakened condition and transferred them to Bojnice zoo, where staff report the only male was severely dehydrated and the trio is being bottle‑fed every three to four hours.
- Authorities attribute the account to the environment state secretary’s post and a state bear response team briefing, noting Slovakia’s last official count estimated about 1,200 wild bears that generally avoid people but can attack in surprise encounters or when defending young.