Romania’s parliament approves culling of nearly 500 brown bears after hiked killed
Date
7/16/2024 4:19:14 AM
(MENAFN) On Monday, Romania's parliament approved a controversial measure allowing the culling of nearly 500 brown bears this year in response to what officials described as an "overpopulation" of the species. This decision follows a tragic incident where a young hiker was fatally attacked by a bear in the Carpathian Mountains, prompting widespread public outcry and concerns about bear-related safety.
According to the Romanian environment ministry, the country is home to Europe’s largest brown bear population outside of Russia, estimated at around 8,000 bears. Over the past two decades, bears have been responsible for 26 fatalities and have severely injured 274 individuals in Romania. The recent attack on the 19-year-old hiker galvanized lawmakers, leading Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu to call an emergency parliamentary session, interrupting their summer recess.
During this session, parliament not only passed legislation aimed at controlling the bear population but also observed a moment of silence to honor the memory of the victim. The newly adopted law permits the culling of 481 bears in 2024, which is more than double the 220 bears culled last year. Lawmakers emphasized that the bears' increased population has contributed to a rise in attacks, although they acknowledged that this law alone will not completely prevent future incidents.
Despite the government's rationale, environmental groups have strongly criticized the measure. Calin Ardelean, a biologist with the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), stated that the law "solves absolutely nothing." He advocated for a shift in focus towards prevention and intervention strategies, particularly regarding "problem bears." WWF Romania emphasized that culling will not address the underlying issues unless effective measures are implemented to deter bears from approaching human communities. This could include better waste management practices and initiatives to discourage people from feeding bears.
Data presented by Romanian authorities revealed a significant increase in bear-related emergency calls, with around 7,500 reported sightings in 2023, more than double the previous year's figures. This rising trend underscores the complexity of human-bear interactions in Romania and the urgent need for comprehensive solutions that balance wildlife conservation with public safety.
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