Thai man at risk of losing eyesight after being mauled by a bear

A Thai man risks losing his eyesight after a bear attacked him on his plantation on Tuesday in the central province of Nakhon Nayok resulting in severe injuries.

Locals in the Pak Plee district of Nakhon Nayok reported the discovery of a bear weighing about 100 kilogrammes to the director of Khao Yai National Park on July 19, prompting rangers to investigate the community and nearby forest in search of the bear.

The ranger team set up two traps in the area in an attempt to capture the bear and relocate it deep into the forest but their efforts were unsuccessful. The bear remains at large, foraging in local plantations for food. Unfortunately, 65 year old Thongbai Wongsakarn was attacked by the bear on Tuesday while harvesting on his plantation.

Thongbai suffered severe injuries including a fractured skull, broken jaw, and extensive facial wounds after being clawed in the face. Matichon reported that he is at risk of losing his right eye. Currently, Thongbai is receiving treatment in the intensive care unit at Chao Phraya Abhaibhubejhr Hospital in Prachinburi province.

Rangers have adjusted their strategy from capturing the bear to exerting pressure on it to retreat into the deep forest. They have been tracking the bear’s footprints and attempting to stress it into fleeing to a safer habitat. Additionally, rangers are conducting patrols in the community to ensure the safety of residents.

In a related report, another bear attack occurred in March in the Isaan province of Buriram. A Thai man was attacked by an Asian black bear while he was hunting for ant eggs in the Dong Yai Wildlife Sanctuary.

The bear approached the victim from behind, clawed his face, bit his leg, and dragged him away. Fortunately, the man managed to escape by using a knife to threaten the animal.

Another bear attack was reported in January at a wildlife foundation in Chiang Mai when a Swiss man lost his right arm while feeding the bear. The bear bit his arm, so he decided to cut off his arm to save his own life.