A taxi driver was mauled to death after he stopped his cab to take a picture with a bear.
Prabhu Bhatara was returning home from a wedding when he jumped out of the SUV he was in to go to the toilet and spotted the injured bear, it is claimed.
His passengers told him that he shouldn’t approach the bear for his selfie, but he ended up getting too close and was attacked by the animal. A stray dog tried to fight with the bear but was unable to save the man.
The man tried to take a selfie with a bear but ended up being mauled to death (Picture: SWNS/India Photo Agency)
Forest officials eventually tranquilised the bear so that they could get to his body. Local reports said that the bear was trying to drink water from a pond when Mr Bhatara approached.
Forest ranger Dhanurjaya Mohapatra said: ‘Bhatara died on the spot. The bear is being treated for its injuries.’
The incident happened on Wednesday near Papadahandi in Nabarangpur district of Odisha, India.
Below is a video showing the man being mauled: