Bear kills goat, rampages through school then takes 'several naps', before being shot dead

Authorities say they could not find anyone to tranquilise the animal

Brown bears are widely distributed across the world (File photo) (PA)

A bear has been shot dead after it killed a goat, broke into a school and then took “several naps” in a Romanian community, authorities have said.

The brown bear scared residents after it entered a garden in the county of Harghita before snatching, killing and eating a goat, according to police.

The animal then scaled a high fence to enter the school, which was empty at the time because of the summer holidays.

Local government official Sandor Petres told the Mediafax news agency: “The bear killed and ate a goat and had several naps. We couldn’t get rid of him.”

After several hours, officials manoeuvered the bear into a secluded area and shot it.

Mr Petres said authorities were unable to locate someone to tranquilise the bear.

The incident took place a day after two zookeepers were mauled by a bear in the nearby city of Brasov after they had entered a cage at a zoo occupied by two female bears and a cub.

Local authorities said the keepers had not respected safety procedures and should have removed the animals before entering the cage.

The two zookeepers received multiple injuries and one is in a serious condition, local media reported.

There are believed to be more than 6,000 brown bears in Romania, and a string of violent encounters with humans in recent years have led to calls for a cull, according to reports.

Additional reporting by AP