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Dog chases 120-kilo bear up tree in central Sweden

What was supposed to be a typical elk hunt became something far more unexpected for Swede Hasse Ekengren, when his dog Aqila chased a 120-kilo bear up a tree.

Published: 27 October 2015 17:06 CET
Dog chases 120-kilo bear up tree in central Sweden
The bear in the tree. Photo: Hasse Ekengren

Hasse Ekengren joined a group of elk hunters in the forest outside Söderhamn in central Sweden, taking along his dog Aqila.

But the hunt turned into a rather scary adventure.

It had only been going on for about an hour when Aqila suddenly started barking. Thinking that the dog, who was about 400 metres away, had got wind of elk, Hasse Ekengren closely started to follow the noise.

After 45 minutes, he reached a big stone.

“I thought there were elk on the other side, so I slowly started to creep around the stone,” Ekengren told The Local.

Instead, Aqila was looking up at a tree. And in the branches was a bear.

“It just sat there and looked down at me. From that distance, it almost looked like one of those teddy bears you win at amusement parks. But I would say it weighed about 120 kilos,” explained Ekengren.


Hasse Ekengren managed to snap this picture of the bear. Photo: Hasse Ekengren

He said he didn't get immediately scared because he had seen “a lot of bears before” although he said he had never before seen one of the huge hairy animals climbing.

“I felt very safe when it was just sitting in the tree. It could have become so much worse if I had come there and it would have been on the ground.”

When the bear tried to get down, the 48-year-old kicked the trunk twice, which made the animal climb back up again. He and Aqila then slowly walked away from the spot and made it home to safety.

The pair's story took place on Saturday and was spreading fast on social media in Sweden by Tuesday afternoon.

However Ekegren said he didn't think his experience was “that special”.

“This will probably happen again,” he said.


Hasse Ekengren with his life companian Aqila. Photo: Private

In the meantime Ekegren argued he has a lot to thank Aqila for, describing his pet as”very reliable” dog.

But he said he did not believe she was a hero.

“No. For me, she’s not a hero. She’s a life companion, a family member that always protects me.”

Article by The Local's intern August Håkansson

PARIS

Fluffy nuisance: Outcry as Paris sends Invalides rabbits into exile

Efforts to relocate wild rabbits that are a common sight on the lawns of the historic Invalides memorial complex have provoked criticism from animal rights groups.

Published: 14 February 2024 13:01 CET
Fluffy nuisance: Outcry as Paris sends Invalides rabbits into exile

Tourists and Parisians have long been accustomed to the sight of wild rabbits frolicking around the lawns of Les Invalides, one of the French capital’s great landmarks.

But efforts are underway to relocate the fluffy animals, accused of damaging the gardens and drains around the giant edifice that houses Napoleon’s tomb, authorities said.

Police said that several dozen bunnies had been captured since late January and relocated to the private estate of Breau in the Seine-et-Marne region outside Paris, a move that has prompted an outcry from animal rights activists.

“Two operations have taken place since 25 January,” the police prefecture told AFP.

“Twenty-four healthy rabbits were captured on each occasion and released after vaccination” in Seine-et-Marne, the prefecture said.

Six more operations are scheduled to take place in the coming weeks.

Around 300 wild rabbits live around Les Invalides, according to estimates.

“The overpopulation on the site is leading to deteriorating living conditions and health risks,” the prefecture said.

Authorities estimate the cost of restoring the site, which has been damaged by the proliferation of underground galleries and the deterioration of gardens, pipes and flora, at €366,000.

Animal rights groups denounced the operation.

The Paris Animaux Zoopolis group said the rabbits were being subjected to “intense stress” or could be killed “under the guise of relocation”.

“A number of rabbits will die during capture and potentially during transport,” said the group, accusing authorities of being “opaque” about their methods.

The animal rights group also noted that Breau was home to the headquarters of the Seine-et-Marne hunting federation.

The police prefecture insisted that the animals would not be hunted.

In 2021, authorities classified the rabbits living in Paris as a nuisance but the order was reversed following an outcry from animal groups who have been pushing for a peaceful cohabitation with the animals.

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