Romania expands brown bear cull as human-wildlife conflicts intensify

15:15

By: Sahili Aya Sahili Aya Sahili Aya

Romania expands brown bear cull as human-wildlife conflicts intensify

Romania is moving to increase its annual brown bear culling quota as authorities seek to curb a growing number of encounters between humans and wildlife, but conservation groups argue that stronger enforcement—not larger hunting quotas—is the key to addressing the problem.

The proposed measure, approved by Parliament and awaiting the president's signature, would double the number of bears that can be legally culled each year. Officials say the policy is intended to improve public safety as sightings and attacks become more frequent across mountain regions.

Romania is home to an estimated 10,000 to 13,000 brown bears, making it the largest population in Europe outside Russia. As forests become increasingly fragmented by urban expansion and environmental pressures, bears are venturing more often into towns, villages and popular tourist destinations in search of food.

One of the country's most visited mountain routes, the Transfăgărășan Highway, has become a symbol of the challenge. Visitors regularly stop their vehicles to feed wild bears or take photographs, despite warning signs stating that such behavior is illegal and subject to substantial fines. Wildlife experts warn that repeated feeding encourages bears to associate humans with food, increasing the likelihood of dangerous encounters.

While the government views the expanded culling quota as part of its public safety strategy, conservationists question its effectiveness. They argue that hunting quotas may disproportionately target large trophy animals rather than bears responsible for repeated conflicts with people, leaving the underlying causes of the problem unresolved.

Environmental organizations are also calling for stricter enforcement of existing regulations, improved waste management in mountain communities and broader public awareness campaigns to discourage risky interactions with wildlife. They contend that preventing bears from becoming habituated to human food sources would have a greater long-term impact than expanding hunting programs.

The debate reflects the complex balance Romania faces between protecting one of Europe's most significant brown bear populations and ensuring the safety of residents and the growing number of tourists visiting the country's Carpathian Mountains.