Injured bear behind Saarijärvi safety alert euthanised after fight

Finnish police in Central Finland issued a safety alert on Thursday evening after reports of an injured bear near Kalmarinselkä lake in Saarijärvi.

The bear was located and euthanised by wildlife authorities under police orders shortly before 10 pm. Police stated the animal’s severe hind leg injury, likely sustained in a fight with another bear, justified the decision on animal welfare grounds.

The warning remained in effect for 90 minutes. The carcass will be sent to the Finnish Food Authority for examination.