The bill was proposed by hunters in a response to the death of an 18-year-old killed by a bear.

The Senate, upper chamber of Romania’s parliament, has cleared the way (214 votes in favor, 7 against, and 23 abstentions) to the slaughter of nearly 500 brown bears in 2024. Overall around 800 animals would be hunted in Romanian wilderness within two years. 

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The bill says reducing the bear population would cut down the number of bear attacks on humans and property destruction. Only registered hunters who own a special permit will be allowed to take part in the bear slaughter season including foreigners who pay a hunting fee.

The new law, which was proposed by senators who are hunters, allows the shooting of medium- to large-sized bears.

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The initial quota provided for the killing of 250 bears and has been raised in response to the killing of a 19-year-old girl by a bear on Jepii Mici last week.

Wildlife protection groups and organizations have notified the European Commission over the proposed measure and expect penalty proceedings against the authorities in Bucharest.

A bear looking for food in a garbage container. Credit: The Guardian

Romania has one of the largest brown bear populations in Europe – between 7,000 and 10,000 as of June 2024 estimates. Entire families of bears often beg for food from tourists crossing the Carpathian Mountains, blocking traffic and endangering their lives.

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The blame lies with deforestation, hunting of animals that constitute bears’ food, and illegal human constructions in their habitats.

There are around 17,000 brown bears in Europe (without Russia), according to the Wilderness Society; the species is protected by E.U. laws.

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