A 2023 national assessment conducted by hunter units estimated the bear population at approximately 7,800. This figure has been contested by organizations such as WWF, other NGOs, and the Romanian Academy of Science, who question both the quality of the data and the methodology used. The results of a long-awaited DNA census, which would provide a more accurate assessment, are still pending. The bear is a protected species under Romanian and EU legislation; however, it is subject to culling quotas* as one of the management measures for the bear population.
In response to a tragic incident in July 2024, where a hiker was fatally attacked by a bear in the Carpathians, the Romanian Parliament, acting on emotional arguments, approved an increased 'prevention quota' for bear management. This means that the bear culling quota has been raised from 220, with an additional 962 bears allowed to be culled over the next two years. Trophy hunting is allowed, including with foreign hunters. The decision reflects the emotional and subjective nature of policy making, rather than a measured, evidence-based approach to effective wildlife management and puts the "bear problem" in the context of managing a perceived crisis, rather than addressing the issue as a result of inadequate bear management practice.
The presence of bears in wild areas signifies a healthy, well-conserved natural environment. Bears maintain ecological balance by herbivore populations, which helps protect forests and agricultural crops, and limits tick populations—benefits that are absent in countries lacking carnivores. This presence is crucial for our environment and our well-being, but it also brings a responsibility to ensure the safety of people and their property. Effective bear management requires education on safe practices, collaborative efforts among all stakeholders—central and local authorities, conservation experts, forest and game managers, local communities, and tourists visiting bear habitats.
"There are several fundamental issues we must address to resolve human-bear conflicts sustainably, regardless of the laws we pass or the number of bears we cull," says Dr. Cristian-Remus Papp, Wildlife Practice Coordinator at WWF-Romania. "Key among these is management of attractants, such as proper waste handling and regulation of supplemental feeding sites. Attractants can drastically alter bear behavior, increasing population densities, changing their range and prey relationships, and affecting hibernation patterns. These attractants can be detected by bears from up to 5 kilometers away. We have tested and successfully implemented solutions here in Romania, but they require broader adoption and support from authorities and stakeholders." Human encroachment into bear habitats—whether through hiking, berry picking, mushroom collecting, or off-road sports—combined with the availability of attractants, forces bears to expand their territories, leading to encounters in previously bear-free areas.
Despite existing legislative frameworks for managing problem bears, prevention and intervention quotas are consistently unmet. From 2017 to 2022, annual derogations requested ranged from 8 to 93, with 7 to 63 bears harvested each year, according to the Ministry of Environment. Romania is unique in that it does not assess the effectiveness of lethal interventions, commonly referred to as culling, aimed at reducing human-bear conflicts. In contrast, Croatia, with a similar bear density, enforces strict principles, extracting primarily problem bears (about 80%), alongside preventive measures and accounting for bears killed in accidents or poached.
"Hunting alone is insufficient for sustainable bear population management," reiterates Cristian-Remus Papp. "Authorities should focus on implementing efficient quotas to address conflict-causing animals while managing attractants properly." The bear issue demands collective action. Authorities must implement proven solutions, the public must responsibly manage attractants, and tourists should act prudently in bear habitats, equipped with bear spray and following expert advice to minimize the risk of encounters.
WWF-Romania's pilot project in Băile Tușnad, in collaboration with local stakeholders, demonstrates that effective bear management is achievable even in high bear density areas (read more about the results here). Together, we can protect our lives and properties, ensuring we can safely enjoy the wonders of nature.
For more information, please contact:
- Cristian-Remus Papp, Wildlife Department Coordinator, WWF-Romania, cpapp@wwf.ro, +40745.891.929
- Diana Iancu, Communication Manager for Wildlife Conservation, WWF-Romania, diancu@wwf.ro, +40757.176.467
*A culling quota is a limit set on the number of animals that can be culled or killed within a specific time period, such as a year. It is a management tool used to control the size and demographics of animal populations
Source: WWF-Romania
