A man has died after a fatal bear attack on Vitosha Mountain near Sofia, with authorities later confirming that two bears, an adult and a cub, were involved in the incident.
The body was discovered on Saturday in the area near the inactive Rudnichar hut. The victim, described as a young man equipped for hiking, was found in outdoor gear, with severe injuries including significant facial trauma. Witnesses reported that he had attempted to defend himself using a stick during the attack.
Emergency services were alerted via a 112 call, prompting the arrival of an ambulance and police officers from the 6th Police Department. The Mountain Rescue Service also responded to initial reports, noting that the cause of death could have involved either bears or stray large dogs commonly present in the region, although they stated they were not officially leading the investigation.
Subsequent forensic analysis, supported by a wildlife expert, confirmed that two bears were responsible for the attack. According to police-referenced findings reported by bTV, the injuries on the 35-year-old man were consistent with an encounter involving a female bear and her cub, with each animal inflicting different wounds.
