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Man rescued a 2kg bear cub; the 150kg bear still tries to sit on his lap

By · Via Times of India · Published by Everything Blog

In short

Six years after taking in the orphaned animal, Petar Tubic maintains a close bond with Masa despite occasional bruises and torn clothing caused by her massive adult weight. Tubic now operates the former paragliding base alongside his wife Milica and nine-year-old daughter Eva, caring for a growing collection of wild fauna. In addition to Masa, the facility shelters another female bear named Ljubica, as well as wolves, deer, and raccoons. Because close contact with humans has left the bears ill-equipped for survival, releasing them back into the wild remains an unlikely prospect.

Key points

  • Long periods of close human contact prevent rescued bears from safely transitioning back…: Long periods of close human contact prevent rescued bears from safely transitioning back into their natural habitats.
  • Maintaining apex predators on private properties presents substantial long-term managemen…: Maintaining apex predators on private properties presents substantial long-term management challenges and safety hazards.
  • The informal Mount Ozren refuge has evolved into a recognized local attraction drawing pu…: The informal Mount Ozren refuge has evolved into a recognized local attraction drawing public visitors.

Sources checked by our analysis pipeline: 1

In the mountains of Bosnia and Herzegovina, an unexpected rescue has grown into a remarkable bond between a man and a bear. Petar Tubic, an electrician living on Mount Ozren, took in an abandoned bear cub in 2019 and raised her after finding her alone in the forest. Six years later, the bear, named Masa, weighs around 150 kilograms but continues to seek the closeness she enjoyed as a cub. An Associated Press report published on October 24, 2026, documented their unusual friendship, which has also transformed Tubic’s property into a haven for rescued wildlife. Coverage by Reuters Connect has similarly drawn attention to his growing family of animals.

From a vulnerable cub to a 150-kilogram bear

When Tubic found Masa in 2019, she weighed just two kilograms. Separated from her mother and left alone in the forest, the young bear was unlikely to survive without help. Tubic took her home, where he fed her milk and fruit and helped her regain her strength. What began as an act of compassion soon changed his everyday life. Caring for a bear…

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