Bear accidentally dropped from helicopter to its death
- 7 years ago
THAILAND — A group of Thai wildlife officials are getting major flak after a rescued bear was killed while being relocated last month.
The Phuket Gazette reports that the 5-year-old Asian black bear was captured after it was found disturbing villagers near the Khao Yai National Park in central Thailand.
Officials decided to transport the animal hundreds of kilometers into the forest to stop it from wandering back out. The bear, which weighed 80 to 90 kilograms, was put in a net that was then hooked onto a helicopter.
While in the air, the chopper hit turbulence and began violently swinging back and forth.
The net eventually came loose, sending the poor bear plunging to its death in the forest below.
An initial investigation found that the net hook was attached to a faulty rin. And critics say the bear should have been transported via truck, and put in a cage instead of a net.
The Phuket Gazette reports that the 5-year-old Asian black bear was captured after it was found disturbing villagers near the Khao Yai National Park in central Thailand.
Officials decided to transport the animal hundreds of kilometers into the forest to stop it from wandering back out. The bear, which weighed 80 to 90 kilograms, was put in a net that was then hooked onto a helicopter.
While in the air, the chopper hit turbulence and began violently swinging back and forth.
The net eventually came loose, sending the poor bear plunging to its death in the forest below.
An initial investigation found that the net hook was attached to a faulty rin. And critics say the bear should have been transported via truck, and put in a cage instead of a net.