Animals - Construction for Italian 'Problems solvers' is in progress
In the Black Forest Alternative Wolf- and Bear Park, a separate enclosure was built for Gaia, the problem bear from Northern Italy. A park spokesperson stated, "We are building the facility." It is still uncertain when the bear from the province of Trentino will arrive. According to the spokesperson, negotiations are ongoing. Gaia had attacked and killed a 26-year-old jogger in Italy in April of the previous year.
From the Trentino provincial government, it was announced this week that Gaia should be relocated to the bear reservation by autumn. The park spokesperson in the Black Forest expressed reservations about the timeframe and referred to the challenging terrain for construction. Regarding the planned size, he initially remained silent.
Bear not to be displayed
Those hoping to see the animal, also known as JJ4, in the Schwarzwald soon may be disappointed: Gaia will not be shown to female and male visitors of the Parks in Bad Rippoldsau-Schapbach (Freudenstadt district) according to the spokesperson. "It's a wildlife protection action," he explained. "We don't want to exhibit the animal and don't want to promote an attraction tourism."
Bear and Human
Since the fatal incident in April 2023, the provincial government and animal welfare activists have been at odds over Regional President Maurizio Fugatti in court regarding the bear's fate. The province ordered the bear to be hunted. Courts halted the decree following emergency appeals from animal welfare activists. JJ4 was captured alive and temporarily housed in a pen near Trento. Since then, a heated debate has been raging in Italy about the coexistence of bears and humans in the forests of the popular province among tourists and hikers.
Even Brother Bruno caused issues
In the Alternative Wolf- and Bear Park in the Black Forest, there are animals rescued from distress. Among them is Jurka, Gaia's mother. Gaia's brother Bruno was the first bear to set paws on German soil in the summer of 2006. He was shot in the Bavarian Rotwand region.
- Gaia, the problem bear from Northern Italy, was initially intended to be housed in Baden-Württemberg's Black Forest, specifically in the Alternative Wolf- and Bear Park.
- Despite plans for Gaia to be relocated to a bear reservation in Trentino, Italy, by autumn, the Black Forest park spokesperson expressed concerns about the challenging terrain and construction timeline.
- With Gaia not being displayed to visitors in the Parks in Bad Rippoldsau-Schapbach, nature lovers in Germany may miss an opportunity to see the bear that had caused controversy in Northern Italy.
- The Black Forest park is home to rescued animals, including Gaia's mother, Jurka, and even Gaia's brother Bruno, who had faced difficulties in Germany when he became the first bear to set paws on German soil.
- Despite the controversy surrounding Gaia's attack in Northern Italy, conflicts between the Trentino provincial government and animal welfare activists about the bear's fate have extended beyond Italy, with discussions surrounding bear coexistence and human safety in forests popular among tourists and hikers.
