"What’s So Special About a Proof Shot?"... People Forcibly Pulling Out a Struggling Bear Cub

A Bear Injured After Struggling and Falling
US Netizens Outraged by Thoughtless Certification Shot

In the United States, outrage has erupted after footage captured a person picking up a baby bear that appeared in a residential area and injuring it while trying to take a photo.

A group of people are forcibly pulling a cub that is climbing a tree down to take a photo. [Image source=Captured from the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission Vimeo account]

On the 18th, ABC News and other outlets in the U.S. reported a video posted on social media by a resident of Asheville, North Carolina. The video shows that on the 16th, two baby bears appeared in an apartment complex. Then, about five or six people approached, seemingly trying to take photos with the bears.

Among them, one person reached out to a baby bear sitting on a tree branch and even pulled the bear, which was trying not to fall from the tree. Eventually, those who caused the bear to fall from the tree were seen in the video holding the baby bear in their arms and posing for photos.

However, the baby bear began struggling to escape from the person's arms and eventually fell to the ground and ran away. The baby bear then ran around to avoid the people chasing it to catch it again. Later, Ashley Hobbs, an ecologist with the North Carolina Wildlife Support Committee who responded to the report, found the baby bear hiding in a nearby lake to avoid people. However, the other bear was not found.

A group of people are forcibly pulling a cub down from a tree. [Image source=Captured from the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission Vimeo account]

The rescued baby bear was weak, limping on one leg, and had a lowered body temperature after hiding in the water. Authorities have launched an investigation into the incident, and the baby bear was moved to a nearby rehabilitation center. The bear is currently recovering at the rehabilitation center and will be cared for there until it reaches an age where it can live independently.

Hobbs warned those who tried to hold the bear for photos that approaching or touching wildlife can be dangerous for both people and animals. Hobbs emphasized, "If you approach a baby, the mother nearby may step in to protect her young," and added, "Touching a baby bear can also harm the bear and may cause it to be abandoned by its mother." He urged, "If you encounter wildlife, do not touch them and contact the state wildlife protection agency for assistance."