Romania overturns ban on hunting bears

THE Romanian government has lifted a ban on the hunting of large carnivores such as bears and wolves amid growing concern over the threat they pose to life and property.

Under regulations introduced by the environment ministry, hunters are allowed to shoot 140 bears and 79 wolves this year.

The regulations overturn a ban introduced last year that had met opposition from the hunting sector and rural Romanians fearful of the presence of the animals in the forests that still carpet the country and are home to Europe’s largest bear population.

But with the government saying it has received reports of scores of attacks on people by foraging bears over the past two years it has decided to act.

“Today we find ourselves faced by situations where a bear attacks somebody’s property, or attacks a person, and then we turn on the television and see someone is in hospital after being attacked. We can’t sit by and let this happen,” said Graţiela Gavrilescu, the environment minister.

But animal rights groups have claimed the definition of a dangerous animal is vague and could lead to indiscriminate targeting of bears. They want to move troublesome bears to sparsely populated areas.

♦ Wildlife in Italy has been so adversely affected by forest fires and ongoing drought that the hunting season should be scrapped this year, or at least postponed, according to environmentalists.