A malnourished bear cub found wandering alone through a French village last week has escaped from the home of its appointed carer, triggering a major search, local authorities in France said Monday.

The cub, believed to be about five months old, has very little chance of survival, according to authorities in Tarn, a southwestern region in the French Pyrenees.

Weighing a mere eight kilograms (18 pounds), it presents "no danger to humans," officials said in a statement.

The little bear, which was separated from its mother before being weaned, was very weak when found in Couflens, a village on the French-Spanish border. 

France began reintroducing bears from Slovenia about 20 years ago, despite opposition from local farmers, after the native population was hunted to near extinction.

AFP