Runaway bear due to be stuffed?

A popular brown bear who escaped from a national park near Riga and was subsequently shot dead may be stuffed and put in the Latvian Natural History Museum, authorities have revealed.

The bear, named Made, had managed to break out of the Ligatne Nature Park near Riga in late April. It was the second time that the animal had escaped.

Councillors explained that the decision to shoot the bear was taken with heavy heart, after a keeper was attacked while trying to goad the animal back into captivity.

Fears that Made, who was approaching residential areas, might cause harm to locals, proved the decisive factor.

Made had been one of the chief attractions at the Ligatne Nature Park.

Janis Andrusaitis, director of the Ligatne Nature Trail, told the Delfi news portal that she hoped that the popular bear would not disappear without trace.

"We don't want the animal to just be buried," Andrusaitis said, revealing that talks were under way with taxidermists.