Fatal Bear Attack in the Carpathians: Debate on Wildlife Management Ignites

A tragic incident has shaken the region of the Southern Carpathians: A 19-year-old tourist was attacked and killed by a brown bear during a hiking trip in the Bucegi Massif.

The victim's friend reported attempting to scare away the animal but to no avail. Rescuers later found the young woman with severe bite marks in a canyon.

This incident is not the first of its kind in Romania, where approximately 8,000 brown bears reside, the largest population in Europe after Russia. Bears are increasingly entering populated areas, rummaging through garbage bins, and attacking humans. Experts agree that the behavior of bears significantly depends on their familiarity with humans. In heavily visited areas like the Southern Carpathians, they often lose their natural fear.

In response to this recent incident, Romania's Minister of Environment, Mircea Fechet, calls for an increase in the culling quota for aggressive bears, which is currently heavily restricted. He advocates for a legislative change that would allow the killing of any bear approaching human settlements.

Autor: Redaktion
Bild Quelle: pixabay

Donnerstag, 11 Juli 2024