Bear Attacks in Romania: A Growing Concern Amidst Shrinking Habitats
A motorcyclist was killed by a bear in Romania's Carpathian Mountains. This incident highlights the ongoing issue of bear attacks in a country with the EU's largest brown bear population. Experts attribute the rise in attacks to habitat loss and human behaviors. Measures to mitigate these dangers remain insufficient.
- Country:
- Romania
In a tragic incident on Thursday, a motorcyclist was fatally mauled by a bear in Romania's Carpathian Mountains, according to emergency service officials. This attack underscores the challenges faced in a country that hosts the European Union's largest population of brown bears, numbering between 10,000 and 13,000.
The attack occurred on the Transfagarasan road in Arges County, where tourists alerted the authorities. The bear reportedly dragged the motorcyclist down a ravine, although the victim's identity remains unknown. This marks the latest somber incident, with nearly 30 fatalities reported over the past two decades.
Wildlife experts blame the increase in such attacks on habitat encroachment due to construction, logging, and climate change, as well as the availability of food waste near human settlements. Despite efforts like doubling the annual bear kill quota, calls for improved preventive measures, including electric fencing and better waste management, remain largely unheeded.
(With inputs from agencies.)
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