ALBAWABA - Romania's largest brown bear population outside of Russia is coming under scrutiny, with conflicting arguments opposing conservationists and animal cull advocates coming to the fore.
Romania is renowned for its beautiful Carpathian mountain ranges, which are home to around 8000 brown bears, alongside wolves, lynx and other animals. However, with the growing sightings of bears outside of forested regions in the search for food, which often comes from tourists, farmers and herders are demanding action to be taken.
(Photo by Andrei Pungovschi / AFP)
In the years from 2016 to 2021, there were 14 fatalities and 158 people injured from attack. They argue that in the absence of a better management approach, the bears must be eradicated through culling. In response, barristers and conservation activists are working tirelessly to find alternative methods that do not involve killing the animals.
The Romanian environment ministry is still in the process of tracking down the bear population using a DNA census system, which will help campaigners and activists refine their approach to preserving the bears. Unfortunately, until a more effective plan is developed, cull numbers have increased to 220, a shocking 50% of the numbers recorded in earlier years.
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Concerns of culling causing the bears to roam in more urbanised or lowland locations such as Bucharest and the Danube Delta, have been raised by animal rights groups, which point to trophy hunting loopholes being potentially exacerbated. A 2016 prohibition on trophy hunting of bears was enforced to protect the bear population. Additionally, accommodation providers like Baile Tusnad are installing technology like bear-proof bins and electric fences to lessen the events of conflict between bears and humans.
The conflict surrounding Romania's brown bear population looks unlikely to be resolved in the near future, with herders and farmers looking for a solution that doesn't involve losing their livestock, while conservationists aspire to save this magnificent animal from being depleted.
