19.11.2025 05:22
In the Doğubayazıt district of Ağrı, 70-year-old Halit Zengel, who was grazing animals, was attacked by a bear. Zengel, whose cheekbone was fractured, was taken to the hospital for treatment.
In the Yukarı Güngören village of Doğubayazıt district in Ağrı, Halit Zengel (70), who was grazing animals, was attacked by a bear. Zengel, whose cheekbone was broken by the bear's paw strike, was taken to the hospital for treatment.
A horrifying incident occurred in Ağrı. Last Saturday, around noon, Halit Zengel, a father of eight, was attacked by a bear that emerged from a wooded area while he was grazing his animals in the rural area of Yukarı Güngören village in Doğubayazıt district.
HE SUFFERED PAW STRIKES TO HIS FACE
The bear struck Zengel's face with its paws and then retreated. Injured Halit Zengel called his son for help using his mobile phone. Zengel was taken to Doğubayazıt State Hospital by ambulance and was referred to the Jaw Surgery department of Erzurum Atatürk University Research Hospital.
HIS CHEEKBONE WAS BROKEN
During the examination, it was determined that Zengel's cheekbone was broken and some bones in his face were fractured. He was operated on by Prof. Dr. Ümit Ertaş. Describing Zengel's condition, Prof. Dr. Ümit Ertaş stated, "The bear's claw has broken his cheekbone, and some bones in his face were damaged. We repositioned the bones during the surgery and also performed tissue repair. Our patient is currently in very good health. He will be discharged after a three-day infection control. When he arrived, there were very large cuts and tears on his face due to the bear's claw strikes. These were completely repaired in a proper manner. There will be no disturbing problems for the patient, and he will fully return to his former state. There is no cut in the patient's facial nerve, so he is lucky in that regard," he said.
"5TH CASE"
Prof. Dr. Ertaş noted that this was the fifth case they had received due to wild animal attacks, stating, "November usually coincides with the period when bears search for food before hibernation. Five of our citizens who were attacked by wild animals were brought to our clinic. Four were bear attacks, and one was a wolf attack," he said.
Halit Zengel, who is receiving treatment in the jaw surgery department, recounted his experience, saying, "I was grazing animals in the mountains. The bear suddenly attacked. After striking my face with its paws, it left me and went away. I called my son on my mobile phone, told him about the bear's attack, and asked for help."