In response to a recent deadly bear attack that sparked nationwide outrage, Romania's parliament has passed legislation to cull nearly 500 brown bears this year. The move comes as an effort to manage the "overpopulation" of the protected species, with Romania being home to Europe's largest brown bear population outside of Russia.

According to the country's environment ministry, Romania currently houses around 8,000 brown bears, posing a significant challenge for conservation efforts. Over the past two decades, bears have been responsible for the deaths of 26 people, as well as causing severe injuries to 274 others. These figures were cited by the ministry earlier this year to highlight the pressing need to address the issue.

Following the tragic death of a young hiker in the Carpathian Mountains, Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu called for an emergency session of parliament, cutting short lawmakers' summer recess. During the session, a moment of silence was observed in memory of the 19-year-old victim, along with the adoption of new legislation aimed at managing the brown bear population.

Under the new law approved on Monday, Romania has authorized the culling of 481 bears in 2024. This figure is more than double the total of 220 from the previous year. Lawmakers argued that the overpopulation of bears has led to a surge in attacks, although they acknowledged that the measure would not entirely prevent future incidents.

However, environmental groups have voiced their opposition to the culling, stating that it will not address the core issues at hand. Calin Ardelean, a biologist from the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), argued that the focus should be shifted towards prevention and intervention, particularly with "problem bears." Ardelean emphasized the importance of implementing measures such as improved waste management and prohibiting people from feeding bears to keep them away from human settlements.

According to data presented by Romanian authorities last week, there has been a significant rise in emergency calls reporting bear sightings. In 2023 alone, around 7,500 such calls were made, more than double the previous year's number. This further highlights the urgency of finding effective solutions to mitigate conflicts between humans and bears.

It remains to be seen how the culling will impact the brown bear population and whether additional measures will be implemented to address the root causes of bear-human interactions. As environmental groups continue to advocate for a comprehensive approach, Romania faces the challenge of striking a balance between conservation efforts and ensuring the safety of its citizens.