Brave wildlife volunteer cut off his own arm instead of stabbing bear mid-attack

26 January 2024 , 13:51

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The man used a pocket knife to set himself free from the bear (Image: Jam Press)

A wildlife volunteer courageously amputated his arm in a bid to free himself from a bear after it latched its teeth and wouldn't let go of his arm.

The brave man, from Switzerland, was helping at the sanctuary in Mueang Ngai, Thailand, when he went to feed the Asian black bear. But as the 32-year-old put food on the tray, the animal launched the frightening attack on Thursday. The bear sank its teeth into his arm and refused to release the limb from its grip, so the volunteer got out his pocket knife and cut his limb below the elbow.

He was immediately administered first aid by shocked bystanders before he was rushed to hospital closeby in Chiang Dao. He was later transferred to a private facility in Chiang Mai. According to local media, the volunteer will have an operation, but it is not clear if surgeons will be able to reattach the crushed limb.

Locals showered him with praise after he decided to sever his arm instead of hurting the animal. One person said: “His heart is truly kind. He was willing to amputate his own arm, but he did not harm the animal.” The bear in question was rescued in 2013 after getting lost outside the forest. It was taken to a national park before being transferred to the wildlife sanctuary. The injured Swiss man’s name is withheld in local reports.

The Asian black bear attacked the man on Thursday (Jam Press)

The Asian black bear is a vulnerable species due to shrinking forests, poaching, and other threats. Although usually shy, it is more aggressive towards humans than the Eurasian brown bear or the American black bear. Last month, a zookeeper was recently killed by a hippo after he attempted to clean an enclosure in India. Suraj, 40, of Lucknow Zoo in Uttar Pradesh, stepped into the enclosure and was killed on the spot.

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Another employee named Raju was taken to hospital after he became injured as he escaped the cage. Zoo director Aditi Sharma said an investigation would be conducted into the incident. The director confirmed the site was closed to the public at the time and said the animal was locked up after the incident. "If there is any mistake, it will be rectified. It would be part of the inquiry to find why the animal was not confined in a portion of the cage when the two employees entered," they said at the time.

Monica Charsley