A 48-year-old Italian man, Omar Farang Zin, who loved traveling and previously worked at Milan Malpensa Airport, tragically lost his life during a road trip in Romania. While passing through the renowned Transfăgărăşan National Park, he encountered a brown bear and her cubs. Excitedly, he took out his phone to take selfies with the animals and attempted to feed the cub, unknowingly provoking the mother bear's defensive instincts.
The incident occurred on the morning of July 3, 2025, when Omar stopped his motorcycle to photograph and feed the bear cub. The mother bear, perceiving a threat to her offspring, attacked him. Despite efforts to escape, Omar was mauled and dragged from the roadside into the forest ravine, where he succumbed to his injuries. His body showed extensive bite and claw wounds, and the attack was witnessed by others who immediately alerted emergency services.
Authorities later confirmed that Omar's phone contained multiple photos and close-up videos of previous bear encounters within the park, including attempts to feed the animals. Armand Chiriloiu, director of the Argeș Forestry Directorate, stated that Omar's eagerness to interact with the bears led to the fatal outcome.
"He got off the motorcycle and offered the bear food. The Italian tourist's phone was also found, which contained some pictures prior to the attack. With the bear approaching... pictures, close-ups." — Armand Chiriloiu
Rescue teams, including firefighters, forestry officials, and police, arrived at the scene but had to proceed cautiously as the bear remained agitated and posed a threat to them as well. The bear was eventually euthanized by local authorities to prevent further danger.
This tragic event is the second fatal bear attack in Romania in recent years. In July 2024, a 19-year-old hiker died after a bear attack in the Bucegi Mountains, falling over 100 meters off a cliff. Experts attribute the rise in bear-human encounters to poor waste management and lack of protective measures such as electric fencing, which encourage bears to venture closer to human settlements.
Although the Romanian government has installed many "Do Not Feed Bears" signs in both Romanian and English throughout the Transfăgărăşan area, many tourists disregard these warnings. Police have issued renewed appeals urging visitors not to risk their lives by approaching wild bears.
To control the bear population and reduce dangerous encounters, Romania has increased its annual bear culling quota to 481 animals, a move that has sparked controversy among conservation groups.
Omar Farang Zin's death serves as a sobering reminder of the risks of interacting with wildlife and the importance of respecting nature's boundaries.
