Medical and Hospital News
FLORA AND FAUNA
Romania aims to triple bear culls to address 'overpopulation'
Romania aims to triple bear culls to address 'overpopulation'
by AFP Staff Writers
Bucharest (AFP) April 20, 2023

Romania's government proposed Thursday to triple the number of bears to be culled each year in an effort to control the protected species' "overpopulation", drawing the ire of environmental groups.

The proposal is based on a recent estimate by Romania's ministry of environment that puts the number of bears in the country at approximately 7,500 to 8,000.

An increasing number of confrontations with humans has spurred the proposal as well.

From 2016 to 2021, Romania recorded 154 bear attacks, which resulted in 14 deaths and 158 injuries, the ministry said.

The proposal could see as many as 426 bears shot and killed, up from 140 individuals last year.

The brown bear is among 1,200 species protected by the European Union's habitats directive.

Romania banned trophy hunting in 2016, but has allowed the killing of hundreds of so-called "nuisance bears" under a system of waivers.

In addition to "specialised technical personnel", hunters will also be allowed to shoot the animals under the new rules.

Earlier this month, Environment Minister Barna Tanczos defended the proposal "because too many people died, because we paid too much money in compensations, because the attacks are on the rise and it's our duty to protect human life".

A longtime supporter of managing the bear population, including through shooting, Tanczos said the "extraction" would be done under strict guidelines and monitoring.

Environmental groups have denounced the proposal, calling it an authorisation of an open season for trophy hunting.

The proposal "risks bringing a new infringement procedure against Romania for non-compliance with the European directives that strictly protect this species," said Greenpeace Romania, calling it a "cynical proposal to solve bear management through commercial hunting."

Romania has long been known as having the largest bear population in the European Union, with an estimated 6,000 animals.

But experts have warned that the actual number of bears roaming the Carpathians remains unknown, saying the country uses an outdated method for counting the species.

In 2021, Romania said it would conduct a census of its protected brown bears using DNA for the first time.

So far only 1,200 of about 18,000 samples have been collected, and initial results are not expected for several years.

Related Links
Darwin Today At TerraDaily.com

Subscribe Free To Our Daily Newsletters
Tweet

RELATED CONTENT
The following news reports may link to other Space Media Network websites.
FLORA AND FAUNA
Thailand's Panda on loan from China dies aged 21; Ailing Pakistan elephant collapses
Bangkok (AFP) April 19, 2023
A giant panda on loan from China to Thailand who captivated animal lovers through a 24-hour live broadcast of her antics died on Wednesday aged 21, said the zoo where she was housed. Lin Hui was the last of three pandas in Thailand and had lived in an air-conditioned enclosure at Chiang Mai Zoo since 2003, but was due to return to China in October. The notoriously sex-shy bear and her mate Chuang Chuang - who died of a heart attack in 2019 - were part of Beijing's so-called "panda diplomacy" p ... read more

FLORA AND FAUNA
Peru declares state of emergency to block undocumented migrants

Afghanistan-Pakistan border crossing landslide toll rises to eight

Damascus slams EU sanctions as 'threat' to quake-hit Syrians

Top Mexican court limits army's public security role

FLORA AND FAUNA
Telit Cinterion adds Dual-Band GNSS Positioning to AIROHA AG3335 Chipsets

Monogoto teams with Skylo and SODAQ to deliver NB-IoT satellite asset tracking

Quectel announces CC200A-LB satellite module for IoT

Topcon further expands MC-X Platform with all-new GNSS Option

FLORA AND FAUNA
India to pass China this week as world's most populous nation: UN

Focus on reproductive rights rather than population numbers, UN urges

A new peptide may hold potential as an Alzheimer's treatment

New evidence pushes open habitats in Africa back by 10 million years

FLORA AND FAUNA
African penguins: climate refugees from a distant past?

Beaver ponds with deeper sediments store more nitrogen, simple mapping reveals

Romania aims to triple bear culls to address 'overpopulation'

Pythons on your porch? Call Myanmar's 'Snake Princess'

FLORA AND FAUNA
Malaria cases spike in Malawi, Pakistan after 'climate-driven' disasters

Vaccine printer could help vaccines reach more people

Mozambique cholera cases surge tenfold after cyclone

MIT-developed printer brings on-demand vaccine production a step closer

FLORA AND FAUNA
Macau junket boss jailed for illegal gambling, money laundering

India population to surpass China mid-year: UN

'Living gallery': fighting to save Hong Kong's fading neon signs

'United': G7 diplomats offer common front on China

FLORA AND FAUNA
People smugglers use TikTok to promote their services

Colombia's Petro accuses Gulf Clan cartel of breaking ceasefire

Ecuadoran soldier killed in clash with drug traffickers

FLORA AND FAUNA
Subscribe Free To Our Daily Newsletters




The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2024 - Space Media Network. All websites are published in Australia and are solely subject to Australian law and governed by Fair Use principals for news reporting and research purposes. AFP, UPI and IANS news wire stories are copyright Agence France-Presse, United Press International and Indo-Asia News Service. ESA news reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. All articles labeled "by Staff Writers" include reports supplied to Space Media Network by industry news wires, PR agencies, corporate press officers and the like. Such articles are individually curated and edited by Space Media Network staff on the basis of the report's information value to our industry and professional readership. Advertising does not imply endorsement, agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space Media Network on any Web page published or hosted by Space Media Network. General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) Statement Our advertisers use various cookies and the like to deliver the best ad banner available at one time. All network advertising suppliers have GDPR policies (Legitimate Interest) that conform with EU regulations for data collection. By using our websites you consent to cookie based advertising. If you do not agree with this then you must stop using the websites from May 25, 2018. Privacy Statement. Additional information can be found here at About Us.