Germany receives Italy's troublesome bear
A year ago, a female bear mauled and killed a young runner in a woodland near Trento, Italy. This led to a dispute over whether to kill the bear. Now, the bear named "problem bear" JJ4 will be transported to a bear sanctuary in Germany.
As reported by the Italian newspaper "Corriere del Trentino", the decision to move JJ4 - who killed a 26-year-old jogger in a forest close to Trento more than a year earlier - was made by the regional authorities in the northern province of Trentino. The move is set to take place by autumn, according to assessor Roberto Failoni. JJ4 is headed to the Worbis Alternative Bear Park in Thuringia.
Since JJ4's fatal attack in April 2023, the government, led by regional head Maurizio Fugatti, and animal rights activists have been embroiled in a legal battle concerning the bear's future. The province initially issued a decree to have the bear euthanized. Courts intervened, halting the order as a result of immediate appeals from animal rights groups. JJ4 was subsequently apprehended and put in a temporary holding enclosure near Trento. This has sparked a lengthy dispute in Italy regarding the compatibility of bears and human inhabitants in the province, an area that tours, hikers, and nature enthusiasts frequent.
Failoni noted the provincial council would convene at the end of May to discuss the matter further, after which the decision will be officialized. The relocation process is likely to take around four to five months, allowing time to modify the enclosure for JJ4's new sanctuary. The province has been in negotiations with the appropriate German contacts for some time and is eager to work closely with the Worbis alternative bear and wolf park on this matter.
Information from the bear park's website indicates that there are a total of nine other bears currently residing at the sanctuary in Thuringia, with an additional facility in the Black Forest. JJ4's mother, Jurka, has inhabited the Black Forest sanctuary since 2010.
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The relocation of the controversial bear JJ4, responsible for a fatal attack in Italy, has been agreed upon by the regional authorities in Trentino. The bear will be transferred to the Worbis Alternative Bear Park in Thuringia, Germany, which already houses several other bears and has a sister sanctuary in the Black Forest.
The decision to transport JJ4 to an international bear sanctuary in Thuringia underscores the growing emphasis on animal welfare across Europe, highlighting the potential for interregional cooperation in addressing wildlife management concerns.
Source: www.ntv.de
