What remained of Timothy Treadwell, 46 - author, filmmaker and celebrity for his unorthodox views on the animals - was recovered from the Katmai National Park in Alaska this week. His bear attacker had buried part of him in a so-called food cache.

"This is unfortunate, but I'm not surprised," said Deb Liggett, the park's superintendent. "It really wasn't a matter of if, it was just a matter of when."

Mr Treadwell's girlfriend, Amie Huguenard, 37, was also killed, and two bears were shot dead by rangers and state troopers called to the scene.

During his lifetime Mr Treadwell, a former drug addict from Malibu, California, always said that if he came to grief, it would probably be his own fault and he wanted no bears to suffer in retaliation. "It would have killed Timothy to know that they killed the bears," said Jewel Palovak, an associate in California.

Mr Treadwell was the founder of Grizzly People, an organisation devoted to the protection of grizzly bears and their habitat. According to the group's website, it was Mr Treadwell's practice to travel bear country without weapons.

Mr Treadwell featured on the website of the actor and environmental activist Leonardo DiCaprio. According to a biography on the site, Mr Treadwell beat his addiction by spending time in the Alaskan wilderness, where he developed his fondness for bears.

The self-styled authority on the animals urged concerned friends not to worry and apparently added that he would be "honoured" to end up in a pile of bear dung. "I think Timothy would say it's the culmination of his life's work," Ms Palovak told the Anchorage Daily News.

"He always knew that he was the bears' guest and that they could terminate his stay at any time. He died doing what he lived for."

Cross Reference to http://www.adn.com/front/story/4110831p-4127072c.html

Submitted on 10/09/2003

Submitted by: Neil Jones
Reference: UK Telegraph web-site 09/10/03

Copyright © 2003 DarwinAwards.com

John said:
Neutral: For Darwin's Eyes
one thing is for certain, he had been warned about his practices by the forest service, he knew the risks, and from previous articles, his girlfriend didnt like it, but probably went with him out of Love, (msn article states that one video shows her shying away from any bear contact.) even if it was a darwin, the innocent bystander rule i think, because of her "shying away" from the bears, rule would apply.

Bill said:
Maybe Toss: Other
This article makes it really sound like suicide ("he would be "honoured" to end up in a pile of bear dung" and "He always knew...that they could terminate his stay at any time"). Suicides are disqualified.

Daniel said:
Neutral: Darwin Award
This is a litttle better, at least we know he's a "self-styled" expert...

Greg said:
Definitely Keep: Darwin Award
I'm making an about face on this one. I think the audio tapes are irrelevant, but this story highlights just how reckless this guy's actions were. It's one thing to love and respect wild animals, but to expect that they will love and respect you in return instead of seeing you as an easy lunch is reckless and foolhardy.

Jack said:
Maybe Toss: Other
Later reports say that a short audiotape ov the attack was found, but it apparently doesn't indicate what happened to cause the bear to attack, so I'm still calling this an accident ... for now.

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