A grim theory emerges as the search continues for missing Australian tourist Cameron Twiss in Albania

There are fears a missing Australian hiker may have been mauled to death by a bear in Albania.

South Australian Cameron Twiss, 28, was last seen on October 13 after setting off on a 17km trail between Valbona and Theth in the Albanian Alps, a popular and busy circuit for tourists.

Mr Twiss reportedly traveled alone, without a guide.

Volunteers from police and the Albanian and Kosovo Mountain Search and Rescue Service spent two frustrating weeks searching on foot, in helicopters and with drones for the missing Australians.

On Saturday, a volunteer from the Albanian Search and Rescue Service said it was possible that Twiss had been attacked by a brown bear.

Such attacks are extremely rare; only 200 of the predators remain in the wild, but some animals are known to roam near the track.

Guide Arben Kola told it Adelaide Advertiser he first thought that Mr. Twiss might have been disoriented at a complicated intersection on the trail.

However, search and rescue teams have determined that Mr Twiss followed the correct path before disappearing.

Cameron Twiss, 28, from Adelaide has gone missing while walking a popular hiking trail in Albania

“It just adds to the mystery,” Mr. Kola said.

Mr Twiss is the second mystery in two months, after a Lithuanian man disappeared on the trail in September.

After raising the alarm, authorities discovered Mr Twiss’s belongings and passport at his hostel in the city of Shkodër.

Purnima Flanagan, a friend of Mr Twiss, shared her last messages with the missing man.

In the last message he sent, Mr Twiss said he was making vodka with a ‘random Albanian man’.

“This was Cameron through and through, he loves to talk and have a good time,” she said.

‘He was the perfect traveler and always made friends wherever he went.’

Ms Flanagan said Mr Twiss had set out on the Valbona trail with a group of tourists from the city, but shortly after the walk decided to go it alone.

Kosovo Mountain Rescue Search Service and Albania’s Mountain Rescue Search Service conducted a search on foot and with drones (photo)

It was only after several of her messages went unanswered that she discovered he was missing.

‘I just don’t understand why no one could see or hear anything. “He would have made friends in that city, he was an experienced walker and he was a good leader,” she said.

Official search efforts were halted on November 3.

In the town of Theth, seasoned Dutch hikers Gido and Stella told The Advertiser they had seen missing persons flyers for both Mr Twiss and the Lithuanian traveler. They became afraid it was foul play.

“At first I thought, ‘Oh, this was a kidnapping,’ or something like that,” Stella said.

However, both walkers thought Mr Twiss had probably just lost his balance.

“I think it’s always dangerous in the mountains, especially when you’re high up… one step can be fatal,” Gido said.