Romania Approves Controversial Culling of Nearly 500 Bears

Legislation follows fatal bear attack on young hiker, sparking debate on wildlife management and safety measures.

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.