Overview
- A Bulgarian tourist, identified as 46-year-old Georgi Bizhev, was attacked after he stopped near Vidraru Dam, tossed food to a mother brown bear and her cub, and began filming; the bear smashed a car window and bit his left arm while trying to pull him from the vehicle.
- Multiple videos from onlookers and the victim show the bear lunging through the open window and clawing at the driver as other motorists honked and guards at the dam alerted emergency services.
- Bizhev sustained serious bite wounds to his left arm and has returned to Bulgaria for further medical treatment after receiving initial care in Romania.
- Local officials said the mother was likely defending her cub, stressed that the animal was not harmed, and warned tourists that feeding or approaching bears is illegal and carries fines reported at RON 10,000–30,000.
- Romania hosts large Carpathian brown bear populations and conservation gains have led to more human encounters on tourist routes, creating a persistent management challenge for public safety and wildlife protection.