Romania Authorizes Bear Hunting After Tragic Hiker Death
Romania’s parliament has passed a new law permitting the hunting of nearly 500 brown bears in 2024, following the tragic death of a 19-year-old hiker. The incident, which occurred on the Jepii Mici tourist trail in the Bucegi mountains near Brasov, has prompted swift legislative action aimed at reducing bear attacks.
The young hiker, accompanied by her boyfriend, was attacked and dragged by a bear into a ravine, leading to her fatal fall. This tragic event has sparked widespread reactions, including from Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu, who emphasized the need to address bear overpopulation while ensuring the species remains protected.
New Legislation and Its Implications
The newly passed law, supported by 214 votes with only 7 against, increases the number of bears that can be legally hunted from 140 to 426 between 2024 and 2025. This decision aims to manage bear populations in areas with high human activity and reduce the risk of attacks. However, the intervention quota, allowing for immediate action against aggressive bears, has been reduced from 80 to 55.
Tanczos Barna, the law's promoter and former Minister of the Environment, assured that the brown bear population in Romania is not endangered, citing studies showing a stable or increasing number of bears. Nevertheless, this move has faced criticism from wildlife defenders and environmental activists.
Opposition from Environmental Groups
Environmental activists argue that the legislation is based on flawed data and that high prevention quotas could lead to the unnecessary killing of bears that pose no threat. Mihai Pop from the Association for the Conservation of Biological Diversity criticized the counting methods used to estimate bear populations, suggesting they lack statistical rigor and may result in overestimation.
The World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) has also condemned the law, stating that it fails to address the root causes of human-bear conflicts, such as poor waste management and the illegal feeding of bears by tourists. WWF's Cristian-Remus Papp highlighted the need for better management of attractants to prevent bears from venturing into human-populated areas.
The Broader Context of Bear-Human Conflicts
Romania is home to the largest population of brown bears in Europe, with approximately 8,000 individuals. Over the past 20 years, bear attacks have resulted in 26 deaths and 274 serious injuries. In 2023 alone, there were 7,500 emergency calls related to bear encounters.
Experts like Calin Ardelean emphasize that while reducing bear numbers might seem like a straightforward solution, it is crucial to focus on targeted elimination of problem bears and preventive measures. The entry of humans into bear habitats, whether for hiking, berry picking, or off-road sports, also contributes to the increased frequency of bear encounters.
The new law has been welcomed by hunters but continues to face strong opposition from conservationists. As Romania navigates this complex issue, the balance between human safety and wildlife conservation remains a contentious and urgent challenge.
