A 48-year-old motorcyclist was tragically killed by a bear after he repeatedly approached the wild animals to take photos and videos during a holiday in Romania.
Omar Farang Zin, an Italian tourist, had been riding along the scenic Transfagarasan Highway — famously dubbed “the most beautiful road in the world” by Top Gear host Jeremy Clarkson — when he encountered several brown bears.
Zin stopped multiple times to photograph and film the animals, even capturing a smiling selfie with one bear just a day before the fatal attack. In several images shared on social media, he can be seen pointing at the animals from just a few meters away, wearing sunglasses and his motorcycle gear. In one video, he is heard saying in Italian, “Here is the bear! How beautiful! It’s coming towards me.”
According to Romanian authorities, Zin returned the next day in hopes of another close encounter — this time with a bear accompanied by three cubs. He reportedly tried to feed the animal, which then became aggressive and attacked him.
The bear dragged him roughly 60 meters into a ravine and mauled him to death. Horrified motorists witnessed the attack and called emergency services. Police, firefighters, and forest rangers responded quickly, but Zin had already succumbed to his injuries by the time they arrived.
Rescue crews recovered his body, which was covered in severe bite wounds. Officials also found his phone, which contained photos and videos of the same bear believed to have killed him.
Armand Chiriloiu, director of Romania’s forest authority, told Cancan newspaper: “He got off his motorbike and offered food to the bear. His phone had close-up photos taken just before the attack.”
Following the incident, authorities cleared the area and later shot and killed the bear involved in the attack.
Zin’s tragic death has sparked renewed warnings from Romanian officials about the dangers of approaching wild animals — especially protective mothers with cubs — despite the growing trend of tourists trying to photograph wildlife up close.
