THE BEAR/URS (Ursus arctos)


The Brown bear (Ursus arctos) and the Lynx (Felis lynx) are both forest animals which require large expanses of connected forests.



European Bear Distribution
Source: Smit and Wijngaarden, 1976


Habitat

The European Brown Bear (Ursus arctos) favours old spruce forest but has suffered greatly from habitat fragmentation and from disturbance.

Population

Throughout the world the Bear has been universally persecuted, however the Romanian bear population is Europe's second largest (after Russia) and even appears to be expanding.

Population estimates for Romania vary widely:
  • 3 200 (Smit and Wijngaarden, 1976)
  • 5 500 (WWF?)
  • 6 000 (Leslie et al, 1995)
  • 7 800 (Vadineanu, 1991b, p. 122).

    • In Retezat Pronatura estimate that there are a minimum of 35 individuals.

    Burford claims that there were a total of 115 individuals "a few years ago."

    These figures compare with totals of x individuals in Norway, y in Spain and z in Italy.


    Although the bear is a strictly protected species listed in the Bern Convention, permission was obtained by Romania in 1995 to shoot 450 individuals and then in 1996 to shoot another 370, on the grounds of interference with human activities.
    Cajander reports continued hunting in Finland and at least one US company is offering Bear Hunting holidays in Russia. Go to their WEB site)