Romania Authorizes Culling of Nearly 500 Bears Following Fatal Attack on Young Hiker

Bucharest, Romania – In a move that has sparked both national and international debate, Romania's parliament has approved the culling of nearly 500 brown bears this year. This decision comes in the wake of a tragic incident where a 19-year-old woman was mauled to death by a bear while hiking in the Carpathian Mountains.

The victim, Maria Diana, was trekking with her boyfriend on the Jepii Mici trail in the Bucegi Mountains when they encountered the bear. According to reports, the bear attacked Diana, dragging her over a steep 400-foot drop. Despite frantic calls to emergency services, the bear continued its assault, ultimately leading to Diana's death. Rescuers later found her body and had to put down the bear when it attempted to attack them.

This incident has brought to light the ongoing issue of human-bear conflicts in Romania, which is home to Europe's largest brown bear population outside of Russia, estimated at around 8,000 bears. Over the past two decades, bears have been responsible for the deaths of 26 people and serious injuries to 274 others in the country.

In response to the public outcry following Diana's death, Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu summoned lawmakers back from their summer recess for an emergency session. During this session, parliament approved the culling of 481 bears for 2024, more than doubling the previous year's quota of 220. Lawmakers justified the increase by citing the overpopulation of bears and the subsequent rise in attacks.

"The law solves absolutely nothing," argued Calin Ardelean, a biologist with the World Wildlife Fund (WWF). He emphasized that the focus should be on prevention and intervention, rather than culling. WWF Romania has advocated for measures such as better waste management and preventing people from feeding bears to keep them away from human communities.

Environmental groups have widely condemned the culling decision, arguing that it is not a sustainable solution to the problem. They point out that factors such as urban development encroaching on bear habitats, climate change affecting food sources, and human behavior contributing to bear habituation are not addressed by simply reducing the bear population.

Romania's Environment Minister, Mircea Fechet, has defended the decision, stating that previous attempts to manage the bear population through relocation have not been effective. "Managing means either shooting or euthanizing," Fechet said, highlighting the challenges faced by authorities in controlling the bear population.

The issue of bear-human conflicts is not unique to Romania. Across Europe, bear populations have been increasing, with countries like Spain, Slovenia, and Italy also experiencing similar challenges. The number of bear attacks often fluctuates yearly and is not directly correlated with population size, suggesting that other factors are at play.

In 2023, Romanian authorities recorded approximately 7,500 emergency calls reporting bear sightings, more than double the previous year's figure. This surge in sightings has heightened public concern and put pressure on the government to take decisive action.

President Klaus Iohannis has called for a balanced approach to wildlife protection and human safety. "If we want to continue having healthy tourism, we need to understand that we cannot let people be killed by animals," Iohannis stated, emphasizing the need for a comprehensive strategy to manage the bear population while ensuring public safety.

The tragic death of Maria Diana has undoubtedly intensified the debate over how best to manage Romania's brown bear population. While the approved culling is seen by some as a necessary measure to protect human lives, others argue that it fails to address the root causes of bear-human conflicts. As Romania grapples with this complex issue, the challenge remains to find a sustainable solution that balances the needs of both humans and wildlife.