A moon bear tragically fell 150 feet to her death while being airlifted by a helicopter back to Khao Yai National Park.
According to a report yesterday, the 6-year-old female bear died while being moved back to her natural habitat on Feb. 12. The bear was previously nurtured back to health at Wildlife Quarantine Center in Nakhon Nayok province.
Officials tranquilized the bear before putting her in a net in order to be airlifted. They assumed that she woke up mid-air, squirmed and broke the net. Her 80-kilogram weight reportedly caused the helicopter to temporarily lose balance.
The unfortunate bear was near Nang Rong Waterfall when she met her demise. Thai News Agency reported that her body was cremated after the accident.
Thanathip Chaiyot, a volunteer photographer who accompanied the officials that day, told Bangkok Biz News that the staff at the Wildlife Quarantine Center decided to airlift the bear because her habitat is deep in the forest and was impossible to reach by car.
As the helicopter was flying over Khao Chong Lom, it suddenly lost balance. The pilot and passengers initially thought it was turbulence, however, it turned out to be that the bear attached to the helicopter caused the plane to swerve. The pilot regained control only after Thanathip felt like something “dropped.”
“When the pilot landed the helicopter to check, we found that the hook lock was open,” said the photographer.
He insisted that the team worked cautiously and according to plan.
“It was an accident that no one could foresee,” he added.
Thanya Naetithamkul, director-general of Department of National Parks Wildlife and Plant Conservation, said a committee has been appointed to investigate the incident.
