An elderly villager in Yichun, Heilongjiang was attacked by a black bear while picking wild vegetables in the mountains, sustaining injuries to his scalp, face, arms, and back. In a moment of peril, he used his right elbow to block the bear’s mouth to protect his head and managed to escape when the bear loosened its grip.
According to reports by Red Star News on June 15, the injured villager surnamed Xu, resides in Nancha County, Yichun City, Heilongjiang Province. The incident occurred on the morning of May 8. Mr. Xu was alone in the mountains picking wild vegetables when he suddenly encountered a black bear. The bear charged at him, knocking him down and began attacking his head.
Mr. Xu recalled that the black bear bit his scalp and face, causing severe damage to his scalp, with the skin of his right cheek turned outward, and multiple deep wounds on his arms and back. In order to protect his head, he inserted his right elbow into the bear’s mouth and used his left hand to forcefully hold the bear’s mouth shut while yelling loudly. Seizing the moment when the bear loosened its hold, he exerted all his strength to break free and escape.
After escaping, Mr. Xu endured the pain and called neighbors and relatives for help. His family members stated that the location of the incident was several kilometers away from the village, deep in the mountains with difficult access. When relatives and villagers arrived, Mr. Xu was covered in blood, with severe head injuries. They quickly applied towels to stop the bleeding and then transported him to a nearby hospital.
Due to the seriousness of his injuries, Mr. Xu was later transferred to Harbin for treatment and was briefly placed in the intensive care unit. Doctors closed the wounds on his face, administered relevant vaccines and injections of serum. On May 10, as further treatment was needed for the scalp wound, he was transferred to the First Hospital of Jilin University for continued care.
Family members mentioned that since being hospitalized, Mr. Xu has undergone multiple surgeries, including facial closure, overall wound cleaning, skin grafting, with dozens of stitches on his body. Due to the scalp damage, skin was taken from his thigh and transplanted to the top of his head. The transplanted skin has now passed the risky period, and it is expected that he will need another surgery to close the head wound by the end of June.
As of June 14, 37 days have passed since the attack on Mr. Xu. His family members revealed that medical expenses have exceeded 60,000 yuan, with further treatment costs ahead.
Regarding compensation for wildlife damage, local village officials responded that the related applications need to improve the chain of evidence and then proceed to apply for specific compensation funds at each level. When mainland journalists contacted the Forestry and Grassland Bureau of Nancha County, there was no response to the phone calls.
In recent years, incidents of wild animals such as black bears and wild boars entering villages or injuring people have occasionally been reported in Heilongjiang, Jilin, Sichuan, Tibet, and other regions of China. Such events often occur in mountainous areas, forest areas, and surrounding villages, with victims mainly being local residents engaging in activities like mountain picking, farming, or herding.