Tourist mauled after rolling down car window to take a selfie with a bear

A Scottish tourist was attacked by a bear after she rolled down the window of her car to snap a selfie with the beast.

Moira Gallacher, and her friend, Charmian Widdowson, were driving through the Carpathian Mountains in Romania when they came across a family of bears.

Stunned by the sight, the 72-year-old and her companion rolled down the window to take a picture with the wild animals.

The bear had approached the car and, according to Gallacher, allowed them to take a photo and then went on its way. But Gallacher and Widdowson returned as the photo they took was inadequate.

A tourist was attacked by a bear while taking selfies in her car. Credit: DEA / G. CARFAGNA / Getty

According to The Mirror, one bear hopped onto its legs outside the vehicle and mauled Gallacher’s arm.

Luckily the tourist’s friend drove away quickly to escape further attack, and she was taken to a nearby hospital for treatment.

STV News notes that the largest population of brown bears has been discovered in Romania. The animals, who usually hibernate in the winter and emerge in March/April, can reach speeds of 30 mph and stand at 7 ft tall.

Curtea de Argeș Municipal Hospital manager Andreea Gheordunescu told the publication that a patient from abroad was receiving treatment on one of her hands after being bitten by a bear.

Following the attack, the police organized themselves into teams to drive the animals away from the area. They also informed residents and tourists to always keep a safe distance if encountering them in the wild.

Gallacher and Widdowson were driving through the Carpathian Mountains. Credit: SOPA Images / Getty

This comes days after tourists in North Carolina were spotted taking black bear cubs out of a tree for a photo opportunity. The footage, recorded on Tuesday, reveals approximately six people at a Buncombe County apartment complex pulling three frightened black bear cubs from a tree over a fence, as reported by ABC 13 News.

Throughout the video, several individuals are observed posing with the cubs, with one person even dropping one while attempting to hold it.

Another cub is seen desperately fleeing from the group, attempting to retreat over the fence.

Local authorities were alerted, prompting the intervention of North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission special projects biologist Ashley Hobbs.

Hobbs, upon viewing the video of the three cubs, discovered only one remaining upon arrival at the scene.

“We did follow up with the people who pulled the bear out of the tree,” Hobbs informed the outlet.

“We did confront them on site that day and let them know how irresponsible and potentially deadly it could be for that cub to be separated from its mom, especially ripped out of a tree like that.”

Hobbs highlighted the rarity of a mother bear leaving her cubs unattended in a tree during this season, noting the lone cub appeared very wet and cold, likely having been left alone for an extended period.