Black bear falls to its death after 'panicking' while being flown in a net by helicopter to a sanctuary in Thailand

A black bear rescued by wildlife officials fell to its death from a helicopter as it was being flown to a sanctuary in Thailand. The animal is seen dangling below the aircraft before the incident unfolded

      The Asian black bear was being flown to a national park in Prachin Buri, Thailand

• But during the flight it somehow came lose and fell from beneath the helicopter
• Reports claim that it may have woken up and panicked before falling to its death
• But officials deny the claim while a team member says turbulence was to blame

 

A black bear rescued by wildlife officials fell to its death from a helicopter as it was being flown to a sanctuary in Thailand.

The animal was being transported in a net to a national park in Prachin Buri, 100 miles east of Bangkok when it plunged to the ground.

Campaigners have been left appalled by the death of the Asian black bear amid suggestions it panicked before it fell.

However, a member of the team involved claims the helicopter encountered turbulence which may have caused the fall and described the accident 'unavoidable'. Officials also deny the tranquillised bear woke up mid flight.

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The bear was tranquillised before being transported - but there have been claims that the animal may have woken up during the flight

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Harrowing pictures show the bear's body tangled up in the net after it crashed down to the ground 

The five-year-old bear was covered by a net which was then attached under the helicopter for the airlift on February 11. There was no cage for the creature. 

It was due to be released deep in the forest having been found wandering the streets and nursed back to health.

Thongchai Saengprathum, secretary of the Khao Yai Foundation, demanded that officials in charge of the rescue operation for the Asian black bear face legal action for negligence.

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The five-year-old bear was covered by a net which was then attached under the helicopter for the airlift on February 11

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It was due to be released deep in the forest having been found wandering the streets and nursed back to health

Thongchai claimed the accident could have been avoided if the bear had been trucked to the national park instead of being flown. 

Road transportation had been used many times in the past to move rescued animals so he questioned the wisdom of an airborne operation.

He claimed it seemed clear that the tranquillising agent used to calm the bear had not been strong enough and he also slammed the decision to release the bear at a place called Khao Laem - deep in the forest and miles from the spot where it was first rescued.

He said Asian black (Ursus thibetanus) bears are highly social animals that need to stay with their packs.

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Pictures show the bear being lifted onto a stretcher having been tranquillised ahead of its relocation

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Thongchai Saengprathum, secretary of the Khao Yai Foundation, demanded that officials in charge of the rescue operation for the Asian black bear face legal action for negligence. The bear is pictured before being transported

 

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A net was used to cover the animal before it was hooked onto the bottom of a helicopter

However, Thanatip Chaiyos, a volunteer photographer involved in the rescue mission insisted the helicopter was hit by air turbulence and told Phuket Gazette: 'The chopper swung for a while and I saw something fall down. 

'When the pilot landed the aircraft we saw that the net with the bear inside had disappeared. 

'Examining the hook, they also found that it had come loose, which is possibly how the bear fell.' 

Wirach Chutupanaporn, head of Prachinburi’s wildlife conservation agency denied the animal might have awakened and struggled during the flight.

 

One rescuer has claimed that turbulence in the area may have caused the fatal accident    

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An investigation has been launched into what caused the bear to fall to the ground.

(The Mail, Uk)