This is the heart-breaking moment an endangered black bear was found dead on the roadside this morning after being killed in a suspected hit and run while he was searching for food.

The Asian black bear had been crossing the highway in search of fruit from the adjacent forest in dimly lit conditions just before sunrise in Prachin Buri, Thailand.

Park officials were alerted at 6am this morning to the dead animal and rushed to the scene but were unable to treat the bear, which was already dead. They said the animal suffered head injuries having been struck by a vehicle which then left the scene of the accident.

Tragically, the death comes just six months before a new underpass is due to be completed which is being built to reduce animal deaths from vehicles.

National Park officer Viroj Jaimunmanee said: ''We arrived immediately after hearing about the dead bear and were said to see the situation. Over the last few years, there have been a number of deaths of bears, bison and cattle killed on the road.''We expect that the bear was crossing the road to find food in the forest in the early hours of the morning when it was still dark. I believe a truck hit the bear at speed and fled the scene without noticing or stopping to check on it.''

The bear was found near the Thap Lan National Park. Viroj said that the bear's carcass had now been taken away for disposal. He said that officials will be constructing a new underpass in the coming months to try to reduce the number of deaths. It is due to be completed in December.