Extraordinary Incident in Aragatsotn Province: A Bear Attacks a Man Collecting Wild Asparagus with His Two Cubs

Today, May 6, an extraordinary incident occurred in Aragatsotn Province. At around 14:10, the Ararat Medical Center informed the police of the Ashtarak division that a citizen had been transferred to them with "bear bites, lacerated, and crushed wounds on the upper third of the right thigh and areas around the shoulder."

According to photojournalist Gagik Shamshyan, the head of the Aragatsotn Regional Police, Tigran Karapetyan, and the head of the Ashtarak Police Division, Sergey Martirosyan, arrived at the hospital. The police determined that the victim was 68-year-old Hayrapet Hayrapetyan, a resident of the village of Ohannavan, who was in a gorge located within the administrative territory of the village around 13:30 when a bear attacked him with two cubs, causing the aforementioned injuries.

The investigative division of the Ashtarak Police Department is preparing materials on the incident. A forensic examination has been appointed.

In a conversation with the photojournalist, Hayrapet Hayrapetyan said: "As usual, I went to that place to collect wild asparagus. I reached the water's edge when the bear attacked me with two cubs. I put up a fight; fortunately, I had a knife in my hand, and I quickly oriented myself and kept defending myself. I managed to stab the bear in the throat, and after that, it clawed at my leg and shoulder several times before leaving. God saved me, as I escaped both the bear's claws and jaws, and I was able to go a significant distance on foot to call my friend, who then took me to the hospital by car. I am grateful to the doctors at the Ashtarak hospital, who did everything from the very beginning to help me regain consciousness. It’s no small thing; I was completely covered in blood. Now, I feel fine, but on the doctors' advice, I need to undergo treatment for a few more days."

According to Shamshyan's information, since Hayrapet Hayrapetyan is a retiree, a parent from a large family, and is socially disadvantaged, upon learning about the incident, the mayor of Ashtarak, Tovmas Shahverdyan, instructed his deputy, Vahanyan, to offer assistance to Hayrapet Hayrapetyan from the city hall.