Science & Environment
Explained: Why are bears being killed by the government…
In an emergency meeting of the Parliament, Romania has passed a law that authorizes the culling of 481 bears, in an attempt to curb the overpopulation of bears. This decision comes in the light of a report by local media about the death of a 19 year old female tourist, who was attacked and killed by a bear when she was hiking with her boyfriend. The woman was hiking on a popular trail in Romania’s Carpathian Mountains.After the reports came out, Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu arranged for an emergency meeting and called back legislators from their summer recess.
Who are these bears and what are their characteristics?
The Romanian Brown Bear or Urusus Arctos are one of the most fascinating animals on this planet. These creatures can stand on two legs, walk on the sole of their feet and pick things with their hands like we humans do. These bears are Europe’s biggest carnivore but are incredibly fast and run at a speed of 30 mph. Romanian Bears communicate with their own kind through scratch marks left on the trees, smell and sound of each other.
Romania is home to more than 60% of the Brown Bears in Europe. In the Carpathian Mountains, it is said, these Brown Bears are in the numbers of more than 6000. These bears are usually wary of humans and attack only when they feel threatened.
What is culling?
Culling is a process of selective or targeted killing of certain animals, who are being a threat to human population or the increase in their population is somehow disturbing the balance between humans and wildlife.
History of Bear culling in Romania
The Brown Bears of Romania, who made Carpathian Mountains their home, are suffering because of loss of habitat. Illegal logging in the mountains drives the bears away from the forests. The change in behavior in these bears are largely as a result of deforestation, growth of human settlement, the agricultural infrastructure in the mountains and agricultural interventions.
Due to the rapid change in environment, these bears have been forced to stray into human settlements.
Earlier this year, the Romanian Government stated that Bears have killed 26 people and severely injured 274 others over the last 20 years. The change in laws is shocking as this decision to cull 481 bears is more than double the number last year when park rangers were allowed to cull 220 bears in a bid to curb their numbers.
Reactions to this decision of the government
Environmentalists around the world have criticized this decision. They believe that killing bears will not change the situation at all until their habitat is protected actively and human activities are minimized in the mountains. Talking to the AFP agency World Wildlife Fund (WWF) biologist Calin Ardelean said, “the law solves absolutely nothing”.
In the recent years bear sightings in the towns have become normal and the government is unable to take strict measures to protect both the citizens and animals from each other.
Who are these bears and what are their characteristics?
The Romanian Brown Bear or Urusus Arctos are one of the most fascinating animals on this planet. These creatures can stand on two legs, walk on the sole of their feet and pick things with their hands like we humans do. These bears are Europe’s biggest carnivore but are incredibly fast and run at a speed of 30 mph. Romanian Bears communicate with their own kind through scratch marks left on the trees, smell and sound of each other.
Romania is home to more than 60% of the Brown Bears in Europe. In the Carpathian Mountains, it is said, these Brown Bears are in the numbers of more than 6000. These bears are usually wary of humans and attack only when they feel threatened.
What is culling?
Culling is a process of selective or targeted killing of certain animals, who are being a threat to human population or the increase in their population is somehow disturbing the balance between humans and wildlife.
History of Bear culling in Romania
The Brown Bears of Romania, who made Carpathian Mountains their home, are suffering because of loss of habitat. Illegal logging in the mountains drives the bears away from the forests. The change in behavior in these bears are largely as a result of deforestation, growth of human settlement, the agricultural infrastructure in the mountains and agricultural interventions.
Due to the rapid change in environment, these bears have been forced to stray into human settlements.
Earlier this year, the Romanian Government stated that Bears have killed 26 people and severely injured 274 others over the last 20 years. The change in laws is shocking as this decision to cull 481 bears is more than double the number last year when park rangers were allowed to cull 220 bears in a bid to curb their numbers.
Reactions to this decision of the government
Environmentalists around the world have criticized this decision. They believe that killing bears will not change the situation at all until their habitat is protected actively and human activities are minimized in the mountains. Talking to the AFP agency World Wildlife Fund (WWF) biologist Calin Ardelean said, “the law solves absolutely nothing”.
In the recent years bear sightings in the towns have become normal and the government is unable to take strict measures to protect both the citizens and animals from each other.
