Romania officially has the largest brown bear population in Europe roaming over its Carpathian mountains and forests, a figure that could be as high as almost 13,000, according to the first scientific study ever carried out.
“There are between 10,419 and 12,770, according to analyzes carried out on more than 24,000 samples collected from 25 counties. The study has a confidence level of 95%,” said Environment Minister Mircea Fechet on Thursday presenting the survey.
“It is the first time that Romania can say, with a solid scientific basis, how many bears it has in its forests.”
“Up until now we have worked with estimates, sometimes controversial, based on visual observations or indirect methods. Today, however, we have a clear image, based on the DNA of harvesting at national level,” he added.
The large number of bears has led to frictions between animal welfare groups who want to preserve their habitats and local residents who say the animals which come into contact with people in search of food, regularly attack livestock and even humans, sometimes fatally.
Acknowledging this, the environment ministry officials on Thursday unveiled a management plan, tailored to different areas and situations.
Previous estimates put the number at about 8,000 brown bears and even that figure made Romania the country with more bears than any place in the European Union.
Under the new scheme, there will be “strict conservation measures and prevention and intervention measures in potential conflict zones. For the first time, Romania will have a digital tool, with national coverage, which will allow quick and informed decisions to be made, in real time,” officials said.
The ministry will partner with the Local Public Forest Administration Kronstadt R.A., the National Forest Administration, the National Institute for Research and Development in Forestry and the “Implementation of the national action plan for the conservation of the brown bear population in Romania”.
Outlining the plan, officials said they had the following tools.
- Android/iOS mobile application for collecting and inventorying genetic samples collected from the field;
- 400 people trained to collect genetic samples from the field;
- 3 dogs trained to locate genetic samples;
- Purchase and operate analysis equipment for animal genetics;
- 1140 electric fence systems for the protection of domestic animals, agricultural crops and material goods, purchased and delivered to hunting fund managers, installed in the counties of the Carpathian chain region, in areas where the presence of the brown bear species is known;
- 150 photo/video systems for monitoring electric fence systems, purchased and installed in the field;
- 10 transport cages for bears;
- tranquilizer kits, purchased and delivered to the Regional Forest Guards.
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