Swiss Tourist Attacked by Buffalo Bear While Feeding in Chiang Dao

[webfact]

 

A Swiss tourist volunteering for a local wildlife foundation in Chiang Dao, Chiang Mai, was bitten by a buffalo bear while feeding it in its enclosure. The swift response of the rescue team and urgent medical attention were crucial in handling the situation.

 

On January 25th, news broke of a foreign man, Mr. Stefan Claudio Specogna, aged 32 and a Swiss national, sustaining injuries to his right arm from a buffalo bear at his residence in Nong Pao village, Muang Ngai sub-district, Chiang Dao district, Chiang Mai. Mr. Specogna, a wildlife volunteer, was providing food to the bear when the incident occurred.

 

Picture: Daily News

 

Emergency responders from Phra That Puakam municipality and Muang Ngai sub-district rushed to the scene to find a large buffalo bear in the compound. The injured man's right arm was severely damaged from the elbow down. He was transported to Chiang Dao Hospital for urgent medical treatment.

 

Preliminary inquiries revealed that the buffalo bear had been properly cared for by the local wildlife foundation in accordance with the law. The bear had originally been under the supervision of Doi Pha Daeng National Park in Chiang Dao since 1993, reported Daily News.

 

Due to various constraints, the foundation took over its care later, and tragically, during a routine feeding, the volunteer's arm was bitten by the bear, prompting the swift intervention of the rescue team to extract the injured limb.

 

Top Picture: Daily News

 

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[jak2002003]

Seems that health and safety was not good there. 

 

It's common sense not to go into a bear enclosure while the bear is in it, surly?  

 

 

[Ben Zioner]

Did the bear have a work permit?

[Olmate]

Tourist or volunteer, which is it? 

[ezzra]

If anyone gets close to me while I'm eating, I too, will get cranky and bite....

[gomangosteen]

3 hours ago, jak2002003 said:

Seems that health and safety was not good there. 

 

It's common sense not to go into a bear enclosure while the bear is in it, surly?  

 

 

Thai Daily News states he put his arm into the cage to feed the bear.

Also that his arm has been severed below the elbow; different to 'severely injured' as quoted in this report. That photo would suggest the former outcome.

[steven100]

As a tourist volunteering with the local wildlife foundation,  one would expect to know & be aware of any animal during feeding and the dangers it can pose.  Why would anyone enter a cage alone and unprotected of a bear, lion, gorilla or any wild animal for that matter.

 

excuse Mr Bear '   can I have my arm back please  '  

[roo860]

Totally armless. 

[Gottfrid]

4 hours ago, Ben Zioner said:

Did the bear have a work permit?

You don´t need that for eating tourists.

[webfact]

Swiss man sacrifices arm in bear attack
by Petch Petpailin 

 

Photo via Facebook/ ข่าวช่องวัน

A Swiss man cut off his right arm as a bear locked his teeth onto his arm and stubbornly refused to release its grip while he was volunteering at a wildlife foundation in the northern province of Chiang Mai.

 

The 32 year old Swiss man is in a private hospital in Chiang Mai province after being attacked by the Asian black bear at the wildlife foundation in Chiang Dao district of the province yesterday, January 25.

 

ThaiRath reported that the Swiss man was feeding the bear in its cage. He stuck his right arm into the cage to place food on a tray and was immediately attacked by the bear. He tried to get his arm back but the bear would not let him go.

 

The Swiss man then took out a knife and cut off his arm in a bid to save his life. Prompted by the urgency of the situation, fellow members of the foundation swiftly administered first aid and transported him to Chiang Dao Hospital, from where he was later transferred to a private hospital in the province’s central area.

 

Full story: The Thaiger 2024-01-26

 

- Cigna offers a range of visa-compliant plans that meet the minimum requirement of medical treatment, including COVID-19, up to THB 3m. For more information on all expat health insurance plans click here.

 

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[KhunBENQ]

Cut off his arm 😳

[TheFishman1]

I’m not sure about reporting this story it said that he cut off his arm in the picture. It looks like he does have an arm in the first article as a buffalo bear and then it says an Asian bear so I can say is why would you ever put your arm inside a cage to feed a bear, I mean his bear definitely does not look like yogi the bear you know with the forest fire stuff secondly is volunteer should’ve been supervised by one of the people who been there for many years. I want to say an expert on wildlife, but that would be stretching the truth , TIT 

[newbee2022]

7 hours ago, webfact said:

 

A Swiss tourist volunteering for a local wildlife foundation in Chiang Dao, Chiang Mai, was bitten by a buffalo bear while feeding it in its enclosure. The swift response of the rescue team and urgent medical attention were crucial in handling the situation.

 

On January 25th, news broke of a foreign man, Mr. Stefan Claudio Specogna, aged 32 and a Swiss national, sustaining injuries to his right arm from a buffalo bear at his residence in Nong Pao village, Muang Ngai sub-district, Chiang Dao district, Chiang Mai. Mr. Specogna, a wildlife volunteer, was providing food to the bear when the incident occurred.

 

Picture: Daily News

 

Emergency responders from Phra That Puakam municipality and Muang Ngai sub-district rushed to the scene to find a large buffalo bear in the compound. The injured man's right arm was severely damaged from the elbow down. He was transported to Chiang Dao Hospital for urgent medical treatment.

 

Preliminary inquiries revealed that the buffalo bear had been properly cared for by the local wildlife foundation in accordance with the law. The bear had originally been under the supervision of Doi Pha Daeng National Park in Chiang Dao since 1993, reported Daily News.

 

Due to various constraints, the foundation took over its care later, and tragically, during a routine feeding, the volunteer's arm was bitten by the bear, prompting the swift intervention of the rescue team to extract the injured limb.

 

Top Picture: Daily News

 

-- ASEAN NOW 2024-01-26

 

- Cigna offers a range of visa-compliant plans that meet the minimum requirement of medical treatment, including COVID-19, up to THB 3m. For more information on all expat health insurance plans click here.

 

Get your business in front of millions of customers who read ASEAN NOW with an interest in Thailand every month - email [email protected] for more information

 

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If the bear was used to get his food from always the same person, his reaction doesn't seem too strange. He wasn't familiar with him personally nor the Swiss language probably🙏

[giddyup]

Wasn't there anyone else around to distract the bear? Seems pretty radical, not to mention gutsy, to cut off your arm because the bear wouldn't let go.

[SunsetT]

7 hours ago, webfact said:

 

A Swiss tourist volunteering for a local wildlife foundation in Chiang Dao, Chiang Mai, was bitten by a buffalo bear while feeding it in its enclosure. The swift response of the rescue team and urgent medical attention were crucial in handling the situation.

 

On January 25th, news broke of a foreign man, Mr. Stefan Claudio Specogna, aged 32 and a Swiss national, sustaining injuries to his right arm from a buffalo bear at his residence in Nong Pao village, Muang Ngai sub-district, Chiang Dao district, Chiang Mai. Mr. Specogna, a wildlife volunteer, was providing food to the bear when the incident occurred.

 

Picture: Daily News

 

Emergency responders from Phra That Puakam municipality and Muang Ngai sub-district rushed to the scene to find a large buffalo bear in the compound. The injured man's right arm was severely damaged from the elbow down. He was transported to Chiang Dao Hospital for urgent medical treatment.

 

Preliminary inquiries revealed that the buffalo bear had been properly cared for by the local wildlife foundation in accordance with the law. The bear had originally been under the supervision of Doi Pha Daeng National Park in Chiang Dao since 1993, reported Daily News.

 

Due to various constraints, the foundation took over its care later, and tragically, during a routine feeding, the volunteer's arm was bitten by the bear, prompting the swift intervention of the rescue team to extract the injured limb.

 

Top Picture: Daily News

 

-- ASEAN NOW 2024-01-26

 

- Cigna offers a range of visa-compliant plans that meet the minimum requirement of medical treatment, including COVID-19, up to THB 3m. For more information on all expat health insurance plans click here.

 

Get your business in front of millions of customers who read ASEAN NOW with an interest in Thailand every month - email [email protected] for more information

 

Get our Daily Newsletter - Click HERE to subscribe

 

 

f e k k the melon! I want some meat!

[hotchilli]

7 hours ago, webfact said:

A Swiss tourist volunteering for a local wildlife foundation in Chiang Dao, Chiang Mai, was bitten by a buffalo bear while feeding it in its enclosure.

It's not a pet... 

[alex8912]

This is very sad. Not funny to me. I wish him well. 

[Thingamabob]

No bear should be caged, nor any other animal. Cruel beyond belief.

[Grumpy one]

When I saw the headline I thought my wife's sister was back in Thailand.

[hotchilli]

5 minutes ago, giddyup said:

Wasn't there anyone else around to distract the bear? Seems pretty radical, not to mention gutsy, to cut off your arm because the bear wouldn't let go.

Have a good look at the picture,maybe lost a hand at most.

[Gandtee]

"Give me the 'bear' necessities. Old mother nature's recipes."  The bear looks armless.

[SHA 2 BKK]

7 hours ago, Ben Zioner said:

Did the bear have a work permit?

Maybe it’s on a LTR Visa????

[Iron Tongue]

Bear probably heard all Swiss taste like chocolate.

 

[giddyup]

4 minutes ago, hotchilli said:

Have a good look at the picture,maybe lost a hand at most.

My comment still stands, just replace arm with hand.

[John Drake]

What's a Buffalo Bear? I thought it was Sun Bears in Thailand.

[shackleton]

As a volunteer he should have been made aware of the safety procedures on feeding caged animals 

Ie don't put your arm in the cage when feeding the animals 

Health and safety  procedures need to be a  priority and strictly enforced in

Thailand 😱

 

[keithkarmann]

43 minutes ago, KhunBENQ said:

Cut off his arm 😳

With a Swiss army knife, apparently.

[baz69er]

Putting your arm into a cage with any wild animal is plain stupidity, so he was carrying a knife on him & cut his own arm off to break free? The picture of him looked like he still had most of his arm, maybe mauled his hand, whatever happened I'm sure it must of been horrific & hope he gets swift medical assistance, hope he has travel insurance.....

 

[Liverpool Lou]

8 hours ago, jak2002003 said:

It's common sense not to go into a bear enclosure while the bear is in it, surly? 

"...surly?".

Seems that the bear was a little surly.

[AboutThaim]

8 hours ago, jak2002003 said:

Seems that health and safety was not good there. 

 

It's common sense not to go into a bear enclosure while the bear is in it, surly?  

 

 

Yes, especially when the bear is surly, surely.