Binky’s primal, guttural roar was heard far and wide as he sunk his claws and teeth into the tourist’s flesh.
The young tourist screamed in terror, wondering if the polar bear’s canines would be the last thing she’d ever see.
All over a close-up photo of the bear.
Moments earlier, the tourist, 29-year-old Australian Kathryn Warburton, foolishly decided that the only picture of Binky worth taking was one that required her to jump two safety rails at the Alaska Zoo in Anchorage in July 1994.
It’s not clear why she did this. The aggressive polar bear, who weighed 1,200lbs (544kg), already had a bad reputation, having already bitten off a zookeeper’s finger 14 years prior.
The keeper said in 1983, three years after he lost his finger: ‘Binky is stubborn [and] independent, and he likes to play games.
‘When he’s really feeling obstinate, he walks halfway into his den and sits down. He knows I can’t close it. He’s a very smart bear.’
As Kathryn edged closer, Binky matched her movements, eventually sticking his head through the tall metal bars of his enclosure.
Video footage showed Binky howling as several sightseers desperately tried to free Kathryn from the bear’s teeth and claws
Australian tourist Kathryn Warburton (pictured) was heavily injured during the bear attack
Binky was seen parading her shoe around his cage
Somehow undeterred, Kathryn pulled her camera up to her face to take the perfect snap.
That’s when he pounced.
Video footage showed Binky howling as several sightseers desperately tried to free Kathryn from the bear’s teeth and claws.
Tourists tore branches off nearby trees to hit the bear’s head as its teeth sunk deeper into Kathryn’s body.
A petrified Kathryn can be heard screaming in terror as people around her tried ripping her away from the killer bear.
Eventually, his grips loosens, and Kathryn was ripped away from the life-threatening incident. Kathryn was left with severe bite wounds and a broken leg, and was hospitalised almost immediately after the attack.
But not before Binky showed off his prize.
Minutes after the incident, Binky was seen proudly displaying a shoe he had taken from Kathryn.
Several other tourists were forced to intervene and tear the woman away from Binky
He was known for his temper, having bitten a zookeeper’s finger off in 1980
Binky sadly died in 1995 following a suspected parasite infection
Local media reported at the time that the bear kept the woman’s shoe for three days before it could be retrieved by zoo officials.
This image splashed newspapers across the world and was broadcast to countless people, who largely stood behind Binky.
Merchandise with Binky’s face was sold across the world, with one T-shirt adorning the slogan: ‘Send another tourist, this one got away.’
Alaska Zoo’s then-director, Sammye Seawell, was harsh in her criticism of Kathryn’s decision to jump over two barriers to take a better picture.
In Seawell’s words, Kathryn’ violated the rules and jeopardised the bear’s life.’
Kathryn wasn’t the only one, though. Just six weeks after Kathryn nearly died, Binky attacked a group of drunk teenagers who seemingly wanted to swim in the pool in his enclosure.
One 19-year-old was hospitalised with leg lacerations. While Alaska zoo did not confirm that Binky was the attacker, he had blood on his face following the incident, leaving the public to draw their own conclusion.
Sadly, Binky’s life didn’t improve much after these maulings.
He is believed to have died from a parasite he caught off his cagemate a year after the attacks. Despite his terrifying nature, his memorial service was attended by countless people.
