Tragic! Last Cub of America's Famous Grizzly Bear Killed in a Hit-and-Run Incident

A cub of the so-called most famous living wild bear on Earth was reportedly killed after being hit by a car.

According to Reuters, the offspring of Grizzly Bear 399 of Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming died on Sunday night around 10:00 p.m. near Pilgrim Creek Road at the national park.

Bears in the Wyoming park have a habit of roaming near the roadsides, which prompted speed limits within the area to be imposed. Earlier that night, another female blackbear was hit by a vehicle, Fox News said.

"It's important to obey posted speed limits, maintain a safe following distance behind other vehicles, and be especially watchful around dawn and dusk when wildlife are more active," Superintendent David Vela said in a release.

Announcing the death on Facebook, Wyoming Wildlife Advocates posted: "399's cub, known as Snowy or Spirit by the bear watchers of Grand Teton, was adored for its antics and notably white face and will be sorely missed."

The post also noted that 80 percent of bears are killed by humans.

No one saw the motorist who ran over the bear cub. But witnesses said 399 hysterically tried to save her injured baby by dragging it to the side of the road.

399 turned 20 last year. At her age, it might be difficult to reproduce, making Snowy probably the last cub she'll ever have.

The death of the cub caused outrage from animal activists and grizzly bear advocates. It further added fuel to the fire that the federal government has created after submitting a proposal of removing the grizzly bears from the list of animals protected by the Endangered Species Act, as per The Guardian.

Since 1975, grizzly bears in the Greater Yellowstone region, which includes Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks, are protected federally as a threatened species. Still, their population has been declining through years because of human activity.

According to a report published by the Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility, road kill in national parks has been a growing concern. The report said Grand Teton tracks vehicle impacts for 24 different species, so laws protecting the species are more necessary than ever.

Even with a fertile bear like 399, their population remains fragile and precarious. 399 rose to fame in 2006 after being photographed with her cubs on the roadsides of the park.

According to National Geographic, she has had a total of 16 descendants but most of them have already perished, either by car accidents, hunting or removed for getting too close to humans.

At present, there are only about 600 to 1000 grizzly bears left in the Greater Yellowstone Area.