A brown bear attacked and seriously mutilated a Russian in a forest at around 125 km (78 miles) of Moscow, said local media and residents, while bears observations become more frequent in the region surrounding the capital.
The man, who apparently survived the attack by succeeding in playing Dead, managed to collect wood allowed by Elk and Deer last week when the bear attacked him from behind, a local website quoted man’s uncle.
“It started to bite his skull, then turned him over and started eating his face,” said the victim’s parent. “In one way or another, (he) pretended to be dead, and the bear left him alone.”
The Russian media said that the injured man called for emergency services and was waiting for hours while the emergency teams were looking for him on foot in the forest near the village of Yeremeevo. He was then transported to hospital by helicopter.
Bear hunt is authorized in a large part of Russia, but is prohibited in the Moscow region.
Some Russians go out in the forest to collect wood, a pair of which can sell up to 15,000 rubles ($ 178), around two thirds of the minimum monthly salary of Russia.
