Romania authorizes nearly 900 bear sacrifices in 2026 and 2027, under the attention of the Italian press

The Italian press reports on Romania's decision to increase the annual quota of brown bears that can be hunted to 859 specimens in 2026 and 2027, against the backdrop of repeated incidents on the Transfăgărășan. The publication Fanpage shows that the measure reignites the dispute between authorities, experts, and animal protection organizations.

The article mentions that Romania hosts the largest population of brown bears in Europe, outside of Russia, estimated by the Ministry of Environment at 10,000–13,000 specimens, based on a study conducted through DNA analysis.

The Italian press links the decision to the death of Italian motorcyclist Omar Farang Zin, who was attacked by a she-bear on the Transfăgărășan in 2025, but cited experts argue that sacrificing a larger number of bears would not resolve conflicts in inhabited areas.

They point out that bears accustomed to humans remain the main problem and emphasize that non-lethal measures, such as the ban on feeding bears, waste management, and the installation of electric fences, already exist but are insufficiently applied.