A man hiking with his dog near Bratislava, Slovakia, successfully defended himself against a bear using a small axe. The hiker, known as Mr Piotr, encountered the bear and her cubs on a nature trail. Despite trying to alert the bears to his presence, the mother bear attacked him. Mr Piotr used his axe to fend off the charging bear by striking it multiple times.
The incident, captured on video, unfolded in the Malá Fatra mountain range. After the confrontation, the bear retreated into the woods as the hiker’s dog pursued. Mr Piotr, unharmed, recounted the intense encounter to the media, emphasizing the effectiveness of his axe in deterring the bear’s aggression.
Carrying the axe for clearing paths during hikes, Mr Piotr advised fellow hikers to remain vigilant, especially with mating season approaching, leading to increased bear activity in the area. Online commentators praised his composure during the dangerous encounter, acknowledging his bravery and quick thinking in defending himself.
In a separate incident, an 81-year-old man faced legal proceedings for killing an endangered bear in the French Pyrenees. The man, Andre Rives, was attacked by the bear while hunting boar, resulting in severe injuries. Despite the bear’s protected status, Mr Rives resorted to shooting it in self-defense to stop the attack, leading to his current legal situation.