The tragic death of 19-year-old hiker Diana Cazacu has reignited a fierce debate over Romania's bear population. On July 9, Diana was mauled by a young female bear in the Bucegi mountains, leading the government to overturn a 2016 moratorium on bear hunting. The new law, authored by former Environment Minister Barna Tanczos, allows for the culling of up to 500 bears over the next 18 months.
Sergiu Frusinoiu, a member of Romania’s mountain rescue service, was in charge of the rescue operation that day. Bears rarely attack humans unless provoked, Sergiu said. We assumed it would be a simple rescue mission. However, upon arrival, the team found Diana's boyfriend distraught and the bear standing over her body. Despite using pepper spray, firecrackers, and rocks to fend off the bear, it was too late to save Diana.
The incident has highlighted the increasing encounters between bears and humans in Romania. With around 8,000 bears living in the Carpathian mountains, their habitat is continually encroached upon by logging, urban spread, and tourism. At the base of the footpath where Diana was attacked, large municipal waste bins filled with rotting food attract bears, making such encounters more likely.
Local residents, like those in the town of Busteni, are frustrated and fearful. We’re afraid to walk home at night because of the bears, one resident said during a confrontation with the police. The situation has become so dire that residents receive bear alerts on their phones. However, the police seem powerless to provide a long-term solution.
Barna Tanczos defends the new law, stating, The bear population is increasing daily, monthly, yearly in Romania. We need to establish control to maintain a balance in human-bear relations. However, conservationists like Cristi Remus Papp from the Worldwide Fund for Nature argue that culling is not the answer. We need to address the root causes of the conflicts, starting with the mass feeding of bears close to settlements, Papp said.
In contrast, the town of Baile Tusnad offers an example of effective bear management. Mayor Zsolt Butyka implemented measures such as installing bear-proof bins, cutting down fruit trees, and running public awareness campaigns. In 2021 we had 220 bear alerts. This year, only three, Butyka proudly stated. The town's efforts have successfully diverted bears away from populated areas.
Tour operators, like Janos Szin, who runs bear hides in the Tusnad area, also criticize the new law. The 'wrong bears' will be killed, the large males who help keep the population down by killing cubs, Szin explained. He fears the law will attract hunters from around the world, eager to claim bear pelts and skulls as trophies.
The debate over Romania's bear population is complex, involving issues of conservation, public safety, and tourism. While the new law aims to reduce bear-human conflicts, critics argue that it may not address the underlying problems and could potentially worsen the situation. As Romania grapples with these challenges, the tragic death of Diana Cazacu serves as a somber reminder of the urgent need for effective and humane solutions.
