Mushroom pickers beware! There're bears in the woods - one old forager pays with his life

[webfact]

Picture: Thai Rath

 

A village in the eastern province of Sa Kaeo is in shock today after one of its men was viciously mauled by a bear.

 

Nawa was out foraging for mushrooms as was his wont when he was confronted by one of an increasing number of bears in the woods near the village of Ban Roboh Hu Kwang.

 

Except that this one was probably trying to protect a newborn cub, noted the local phu yai ban, and was particularly ferocious. 

 

Thai Rath noted that the victim - a 73 year iold man called Nawa - was found after 50 people were mobilized to search after Nawa went missing on Friday.

 

He was found Saturday very badly mauled with the teeth and claw marks indicative of a bear attack all over his head and torso.

 

His wife Kaewdee said she was devastated losing the family breadwinner so sudenly and in such terrible circumstances.

 

There was much sadness at the temple of Wat Raboh Hu Kwang where the body was laid out following an autopsy at the local hospital.

 

Kaewdee implored her neighbors to stay out of the woods lest the same thing happen to their loved one.

 

This was echoed by the local district chief who also called on park rangers to find the bear responsible and make sure it was sent back deep into the forest. 

 

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[SAFETY FIRST]

1 hour ago, webfact said:

men was viciously mauled by a bear

You learn something new everyday. 

 

Never knew Thailand had bears. 

 

Edited September 12, 2022 by SAFETY FIRST

[JCauto]

2 hours ago, SAFETY FIRST said:

You learn something new everyday. 

 

Never knew Thailand had bears. 

 

There's Asian Black Bears which almost certainly would have been the ones attacking this unfortunate farmer, and Malayan Sun Bears the small and cute forest bears with the big white patch under their chins.

[Aussieroaming]

RIP, what a nasty way to go.

[Sparktrader]

3 hours ago, SAFETY FIRST said:

You learn something new everyday. 

 

Never knew Thailand had bears. 

 

Black bears like Laos

[Sparktrader]

19 minutes ago, Aussieroaming said:

RIP, what a nasty way to go.

Better than 12 mth cancer battle. Id take the bear fight.

[Burma Bill]

5 hours ago, webfact said:

foraging for mushrooms

With respect, one of the "bare" necessities in life? RIP old man.

[Tropicalevo]

☹️

[Kenny202]

Someone has replied that it probably a black bear....but nowhere does it state this in the headline or story (as usual) and specifics or facts. never any follow up either. News / reporting here is worthless mostly.

[steven100]

was it a bear or someone dressed up as a bear ....  to rob and steal from the victim?

[steven100]

10 hours ago, webfact said:

the family breadwinner

they really show how much your loved by the family ......     jeeeeze ,  the breadwinners gone ,  what do we do now for lao kao and rice ....

[AsianAtHeart]

Due to their rarity, most Thais would be completely ignorant of how best to avoid a bear attack upon encountering one.  For those who might be in this situation, it is important to know a few facts.

 

1) You cannot outrun the bear; you cannot outclimb the bear.  If you happen to be smaller, and find a very small crack in some rocks that you can fit through, that might be your only way to "get away" from the bear.  Apart from this, don't even try to escape.  (And, if the bear were to guard the entrance to your secluded "cave," you may be caught there for awhile.)

 

2) Never show fear to a wild animal.  Running shows fear.  Animals seem to understand that it is the guilty party who runs--and they may give chase.

 

3) The bear finds humans to be a threat.  A mother bear, especially, will instinctively desire to remove the threat.  Any aggression shown the bear will likely backfire.  Unless you have the means to back up your bluff, do not attempt to intimidate the bear.

 

4) Some people have survived by playing dead.  A dead person is not a threat.  The bear is unlikely to kill a human out of hunger--the bear just wants to eliminate the threat.  If the threat is gone, the bear is satisfied.  However, playing dead is a risk.  A bear may test to see if you are really dead.  Can you endure the pain while maintaining your act?

 

Personally, I would recommend staying quiet, and as motionless as possible--at least until the bear has had opportunity to decide you are not a threat.  Then slowly withdraw.  I once stared a surprised black bear in the face for nearly a minute, with neither of us moving, before he turned tail and ran--UP the mountain faster than you would believe.  Perhaps I was fortunate that it was not a grizzly; grizzlies are known for being ill-tempered and dangerous.

 

 

[PETERTHEEATER]

11 hours ago, SAFETY FIRST said:

You learn something new everyday. 

 

Never knew Thailand had bears. 

 

Where do you think all the s**t in the woods comes from......????

[JackGats]

Never heard of bears in Thailand. Parts of the world without bears are better off without them. Same applies for sharks. Many people these days like dangerous animals to enjoy special protection. I think there are enough harmless animals to protect without protecting killers.

 

[hotchilli]

21 hours ago, webfact said:

This was echoed by the local district chief who also called on park rangers to find the bear responsible and make sure it was sent back deep into the forest. 

The bear was where it was supposed to be... the unfortunate mushroom picker chose to enter into it's backyard.

[JCauto]

9 hours ago, JackGats said:

Never heard of bears in Thailand. Parts of the world without bears are better off without them. Same applies for sharks. Many people these days like dangerous animals to enjoy special protection. I think there are enough harmless animals to protect without protecting killers.

 

So, uh, you ever hear about ecology and the symbiotic relationship between predators, prey, habitat, etc.? Where you find disproportionate targeting of predators, there are always multiple negative impacts on the other animal populations and flora. Nature tends to strike a balance, and when we artificially remove one of or some of those aspects by allowing predators to be over-hunted, there will be major negative impacts on the "harmless" animals. Research about reintroduction of wolves into the Yellowstone National Park for example, fascinating story...

https://www.yellowstonepark.com/things-to-do/wildlife/wolf-reintroduction-changes-ecosystem/