Bear-pit intruder rescued

COPENHAGEN, Denmark - A man jumped inside a polar bear pit Wednesday at the Copenhagen Zoo, forcing zookeepers to fire rubber bullets at the 1,369-pound bear so they could rescue him.

The man leaped into the enclosure shortly after noon as guests, including children, were watching the 10-year-old bear.

Zoo staffers at first yelled to distract the animal from his potential prey before others with firearms arrived, firing rubber bullets to get the huge animal to back off. Once the bear returned to its cage, zoo employees entered the enclosure to rescue the intruder.

"He walked up to the male bear of his own free will" but was able to get away with "only superficial wounds," said park manager Steffen Straede, who was visibly upset at the incident.

The man, reportedly in his 20s, was not identified and his motive for entering the enclosure was unclear. He was taken to a hospital for treatment.

The zoo has no plans to make any changes to the enclosures following Wednesday's incident, Straede added.

The Copenhagen Zoo made international headlines last year when it killed a giraffe for inbreeding reasons, then fed it to lions in front of visitors, including children.