Swat Zoo Under Scrutiny After Dramatic Bear Chase Video

(MENAFN- Tribal News Network) A viral video from Swat Zoo has sparked widespread debate on social media. In the video, a bear can be seen chasing a zoo staff member, who appears to be running for his life.

Interestingly, another bear and a second staff member present in the same video seem unaffected by the situation, raising further questions about the nature of the incident. Meanwhile, the second staff member is also seen hitting the bear with a stick or pipe-like object in an apparent attempt to divert its attention.

After the video surfaced, various opinions emerged on social media. Some users expressed concern, claiming that animals in the zoo are not being provided with adequate food, which may be causing aggressive behavior.

According to them, better nutrition and care could help prevent such incidents.

However, experts view the matter from a different perspective. According to an animal science expert, Dr. Hammad (pseudonym), there is a fundamental difference between the behavior of wild and domestic animals. Handling wild animals requires proper training, effective management, and a deep understanding of their temperament.

He explained that if a wild animal, especially a bear, does not receive proper food, it can suffer from severe stress. In such a state, it may even lose the ability to recognize individuals, increasing the risk of attacking anyone nearby.

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He further suggested that in the viral video, the staff member may have been carrying meat, bread, or a shopping bag containing food. Since the bear was expecting food, it chased that particular person while ignoring the other.

He also noted that hitting the bear with a stick was inappropriate, as it could further frighten the animal and increase its aggression.

According to him, the staff shown in the video did not appear to be fully trained. Keeping food close instead of securing it properly was a mistake, and hitting the animal could be harmful. The lack of protective gear, such as gloves, was also considered a serious lapse.

On the other hand, the staff member involved in the incident, Murad Ali, described the situation differently. He stated that one of the regular staff members was ill that day, so he entered the enclosure to assist another worker.

He said they were busy cleaning and removing waste when the bear suddenly attacked him.

According to Murad Ali, the bear was not familiar with him, while it was accustomed to the other staff member. That is why it reacted only to him. He admitted that he lacked sufficient experience in handling the bear, which caused him to panic and run. The other staff member then intervened and helped save him.

According to the administration, each animal has a different temperament and can recognize individuals, reacting accordingly.

Dr. Dawood, the veterinary officer at Swat Zoo, stated that the staff were engaged in routine cleaning and animal care when one of the bears suddenly attacked a worker. However, other staff members acted quickly and brought the situation under control.

He added that the zoo has a team of around 15 staff members who receive regular training, which is updated periodically to handle emergency situations.

He clarified that the staff member hitting the bear was actually trying to divert its attention to save the other person.

According to him, animal behavior also depends on factors such as age, health, and stress levels.

Meanwhile, wildlife department officials presented another perspective.

According to Conservator Wildlife and Project Director Abdul Ghafoor, the zoo has clear standard operating procedures (SOPs) in place for animal care, which are strictly followed by veterinary officers and staff. These include ensuring animal safety, understanding their behavior, avoiding cruelty, and providing proper nutrition.

He stated that if any staff member is found deliberately harming animals or depriving them of food, strict action is taken.

Regarding this incident, he said one staff member was ill while another entered to assist and was cleaning the enclosure. Since the bear was unfamiliar with him, it reacted aggressively, whereas it did not harm the other staff member because it recognized him.

He also rejected the impression that the bear was beaten with a wooden stick, clarifying that the object seen in the video was actually a pipe used to save a human life, although using it in that manner was not ideal.

He further clarified that there was no meat or bread in the bag. Bears are usually fed cooked meat, along with bread and honey as part of their diet.

According to him, the bear was not hungry but reacted to the presence of an unfamiliar person.

Swat Zoo was established in 2021 and opened to the public in July 2025. Located in Kanju Township, the zoo currently houses over 90 animals and hundreds of birds, including lions, leopards, wolves, hyenas, black bears, zebras, wild cats, ostriches, and several rare species.

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