19-year-old woman dies in bear attack
A 19-year-old woman died in the Romanian Carpathians during a bear attack. The young tourist was hiking in the south of Brasov, in the Bucegi-Massif, when she was dragged away by the wild animal, according to an eyewitness who placed a call afterwards. This was reported by the Romanian news agency Mediafax.
Less than an hour later, mountain rescuers and police recovered the woman's body on a Tuesday evening. They reportedly shot and killed the bear, as it had allegedly attempted to attack the rescuers.
Approximately 8,000 brown bears are estimated to live in Romania's Carpathians according to the government. This is the second largest bear population in Europe, after that in Russia. They frequently attack hikers, break into farmers' homes, and rummage through garbage cans in cities like Brasov in search of food.
Following the latest fatality, Romania's Environment Minister Mircea Fechet demanded higher bear cull quotas. He reportedly requested an annual quota of 500 animals, but this number was reportedly reduced to 220 after consultation with other institutions.
Authorities have been relocating aggressive bears to other regions of Romania. Minister Fechet told the broadcaster "Antena3 CNN" that this method accomplishes nothing. It merely shifts the problem from one county to another.
The tragic incident occurred within the vast Carpathian mountains, where the woman was hiking. Despite efforts to relocate aggressive bears to other regions, attacks like this one continue to occur.
