A young man jogging was killed by a bear on Wednesday on a path in northeastern Italy. something that happens for the first time in the country, as announced by local authorities.

Andrea Papi, 26, was exercising in this wooded, mountainous area, near his village of Caldes, in the Trentino region, when he crossed paths with the bear.

His family, concerned because he was taking so long to return home, informed the authorities. Rescuers found him dead Wednesday night into Thursday in a ravine. Brought deep wounds to the neck, arms and chest, and it was evident that they had been caused by some large carnivorous animal.

According to the results of the forensic examination, Andrea Papi succumbed to the injuries caused by a bear, as a source close to the investigations said, confirming the information of the Italian media. DNA analysis is expected to identify the animal in the coming days.

The local authorities confirmed this Friday evening that it was decided to urgently launch an operation to kill the bear, as soon as the identification is made, announced the president of Trentino, Maurizio Fugati.

In March, a man was attacked by a bear in the same area, rekindling the debate about the dangers of these animals. Thanks to the success of the Life Ursus project, for the reintroduction of bears in Trentino (1996-2004), in 2021 69 bears were recorded in this region. In actually, it’s about a centimeteralthough the program called for their population to hover around 50 animals, Fugati commented, to ensure a safe coexistence with local residents.

“It is therefore advisable to reduce this number as soon as possible,” he added.

Anamaria Prokatsi, of the National Association for the Protection of Animals (Enpa), however, complained the absence of preventive actions on behalf of the authorities. “Man is not the target of the bear, which, on the contrary, is a particularly timid animal, which is kept at a distance” from people, the former member of parliament emphasized, pointing out that no effort was made to “discourage access to areas where they are mother bears with their cubs”.

The environmental organization WWF, although it emphasized that it opposes the systematic extermination of bears involved in non-lethal attacks, assessed that the one responsible for the death of young Andrea should be killed.

In Italy they live approx 120-200 bears, etcmainly in Trentino and Abruzzo.