On September 30, Bear 402 in Katmai National Park was attacked and killed by Bear 469. The killing was caught and viewed by many through the Explore.org live cameras used to share the lives of Katmai’s grizzly bear population. Though violent deaths aren’t uncommon for the animals, this one hit fans hard, partially due to the fact that it was caught on camera and partially due to the love many had for the old female bear.
Explore.org shared a heartfelt goodbye to Bear 402, documenting her life and discussing what her death means to the world. She was an icon of the bear cams and she will be missed.
As the video discusses, don’t feel bad if you’re feeling empathy or sorrow for Bear 402. The death was brutal, especially with it coming just days before the beginning of Fat Bear Week. Yes, it’s a part of nature, but that doesn’t mean we can’t still feel for the wild animal.
