Romania to cull nearly 500 bears after hiker mauled to death
- Bears have killed 26 people and injured 274 in past 20 years in Romania, home to Europe’s largest brown bear population outside Russia
Romania’s parliament on Monday approved the culling of almost 500 bears this year in a bid to control the protected species’ “overpopulation” after a deadly hiker attack sparked nationwide outcry.
Romania is home to Europe’s largest brown bear population outside Russia with 8,000, according to the environment ministry.
Bears have killed 26 people and severely injured 274 others over the past 20 years in the southeastern European country, the ministry said earlier this year.
After a young hiker was mauled to death on a popular trail in Romania’s Carpathian Mountains, Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu summoned lawmakers back from their summer recess to attend an emergency session of parliament.
As well as adopting legislation to control the brown bear population, the parliament held a moment of silence in the 19-year-old hiker’s memory.
The law adopted on Monday authorises the culling of 481 bears in 2024, more than twice last year’s total of 220.
