Shepherd Shelters British Tourists From Bears
A Turkish shepherd gave three British cyclists food, warmth and an overnight shelter after they camped near a forest reserve in Şenkaya.
Updated on Nov. 2, 2026 in Adventure Travel
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Shepherd Semih Gok sheltered three British tourists overnight in Şenkaya, Turkey, after they pitched a tent by the roadside as darkness fell while exploring a forest by bicycle. He offered them food, warmth and shelter, having grown concerned about reports of bears roaming the reserve.
Why it matters
The encounter highlights the risks of bear activity in the area, where earlier incidents involved a shepherd boy in 2023 and a shepherd killed in 2022. It also shows how local herders are often the first to respond to visitors in remote terrain.
The account is a single eyewitness report of one overnight encounter, with no official count of bear activity in the reserve. Prior incidents cited include a 16-year-old shepherd attacked in 2023 and a shepherd killed in 2022, but the report does not say how many visitors pass through the area or whether any other tourists were affected.
The players
Semih Gok
A shepherd in Şenkaya, Erzincan Province, who took in the three British tourists after becoming concerned about bears in the reserve.
The details
Semih Gok was grazing his animals nearby when he saw the tourists settling in for the night. He prepared tea on a fire with two of the men and later shared molasses inside, and the tourists were seen sitting around a stove with traditionally cooked Turkish food.
Timeline
Evening of the incident (exact date not specified): tourists pitch tent as darkness falls and are sheltered by Gok.
2022: a shepherd is killed in an altercation with a bear in the same area.
2023: a 16-year-old shepherd boy is attacked by a bear while grazing animals in the forest.
About a decade before 2023: a 62-year-old man is reportedly hospitalised after a bear attack.
Local Context
The 2022 death of a shepherd and the 2023 attack on a 16-year-old herder in the same forest form a recent pattern of bear encounters involving local livestock workers. This overnight shelter for British cyclists shows visitors now entering an area where those prior incidents remain part of local experience.
Travelers exploring forested or remote areas where bears are present should plan campsites with local guidance in mind before dark. Asking nearby herders or local residents about recent wildlife activity can help avoid camping in unsafe spots.
The takeaway
Local herders can be a valuable source of safety information when travelling through rural and wildland areas. Checking with them about recent wildlife activity before setting up camp is a practical step for visitors.
Further reading
For more on remote trips and safety considerations, see Adventure Travel.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Need To Know.
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