Media: Schoolgirl paralysed after encounter with bear in Russia

A 13-year-old girl in Russia’s Altai Republic has been left unable to walk and partially lost her speech after being shocked by an encounter with a bear, SHOT reports.

The report said the girl from the village of Yaylyu went outside her home on a day off and saw a huge bear right outside the yard. The animal was driven away, but the girl was so frightened that her mother called an ambulance.

She was taken to the district central hospital, where doctors diagnosed her with psychological shock.

The girl is now at home, her mother told SHOT. She is unable to walk and has partially lost her speech.

Residents say bears have practically taken over the village, entering yards, breaking fences and trees, and damaging gates and cars. According to them, a bear has been appearing at one property for a week and has charged at a couple twice.

The second incident occurred when the bear rushed towards the woman as she was opening the door of an outdoor shower. Her husband managed to stop the animal, after which the couple hid in a nearby building.

The village is located within the Altai State Biosphere Reserve. The settlement has been closed to tourists due to the increasing number of bear attacks.

By Bakhtiyar Abbasov