Romania Approves Controversial Culling of Nearly 500 Bears
Legislation follows fatal bear attack on young hiker, sparking debate on wildlife management and safety measures.
Overview
- Parliament authorized the culling of 481 bears in response to perceived overpopulation.
- The decision comes after a 19-year-old hiker was killed by a bear in the Carpathian Mountains.
- Romania hosts Europe's largest brown bear population outside Russia, with 8,000 bears.
- Environmental groups criticize the cull, advocating for prevention and intervention strategies instead.
- In 2023, emergency calls about bear sightings more than doubled from the previous year.