"Problem" European brown bears in Slovakia's Carpathian Mountains to be fitted with GPS collars

In the 1920s Slovakia's brown bear population was almost eradicated by hunting.

From 1932 until the 1960s the hunting of bears in Slovakia was stopped and the bears were protected (ironically by the hunters who had been killing them).

However in the 1960s this ban was lifted as the population of bears had reached a high level and were conflicting with humans.

Due to hunters mainly killing male bears (as trophies) the population sharply dropped and again and by the mid 1980s the bears were again at risk of eradication.

EU legislation was imposed as the European brown bear was now classed as an endangered species and therefore protected by EU law.

To date the hunting of bears is still allowed in the Carpathian Mountains, but the number of animals killed is strictly controlled and only "regulation shooting" or "protection shooting" is permitted.

There are over 1,000 brown bears living in Slovakia's mountains.

Some of these bears have lost their fear of humans and have found the local villages a good source of food.

Now conservationists have decided to fit some of these so-called "problem bears" with a GPS collars to track and monitor their behaviour.

On a personal note; a family member working at a hotel in the village of Zuberec has encountered a bear first hand.
Whilst at the rear of the hotel she was confronted by a bear rummaging through the bins looking for food.
Fortunately there was an unlocked door nearby and she was able to dart back into the safety of the hotel.

Read more at: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-13439360

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Pets & Animals

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