A bear mauled a Romanian teen to death. Will a cull solve the problem?

In Romania, a tragic incident occurred involving a bear and a young hiker named Diana Cazacu. On July 9, Diana, who was just 19 years old, was hiking in the Bucegi mountains when she was attacked by a young female bear. This unfortunate event has sparked a significant discussion about the growing bear population in Romania, which is now the largest in Europe outside of Russia. In response to this incident, the Romanian government has decided to lift a ban on bear hunting that was put in place in 2016. This decision has reignited a heated debate about how to manage the increasing number of bears in the country. The staff at the mountain rescue service, known as Salvamont, acted quickly when Diana and her boyfriend called for help. The rescue leader, Sergiu Frusinoiu, immediately organized two teams to approach the area from different directions. When they arrived, they found Diana's boyfriend in distress and learned that the bear had thrown Diana down a steep ravine. The rescue team had to defend themselves against the bear using pepper spray and other tools until a hunter arrived and shot the bear. Unfortunately, it was too late for Diana, who was found lying in a stream. Sergiu explained that Diana's mistake was running away from the bear, which is something that people should avoid doing. Instead, the standard advice is to make noise while hiking in bear territory and to remain calm if you encounter a bear. Running away can provoke the bear to chase you. The area where Diana was hiking had several open trash bins, which likely attracted the bear. Bears are naturally curious and will seek out food, and when people leave garbage around, it can lead to dangerous encounters. In Romania, there are approximately 8,000 bears living in the Carpathian mountains, but their habitats are being threatened by logging, urban development, and tourism. Many residents in nearby towns express fear of bears and feel unsafe walking home at night. The police have been called to address these concerns, but some locals feel that more action is needed. The new law allows for the hunting of up to 500 bears over the next 18 months. Former Environment Minister Barna Tanczos, who was instrumental in passing this law, argues that the bear population is increasing at an alarming rate and that action must be taken to ensure the safety of both humans and bears. He believes that establishing control over the bear population is essential for maintaining a balance between humans and wildlife. However, some experts, like Cristi Remus Papp from the Worldwide Fund for Nature, argue that simply allowing bear hunting will not solve the underlying issues. Papp acknowledges that there are indeed problematic bears, but he emphasizes the need to address the root causes of human-bear conflicts. He points out that the mass feeding of bears near human settlements and along tourist routes is a significant factor contributing to these conflicts. Since the communist era, hunters' associations have been required by law to feed bears, which was initially intended to make them easier to hunt. However, this practice has led to an increase in bear encounters with humans. Some towns have successfully implemented alternative bear management strategies. For instance, in Baile Tusnad, the mayor has taken proactive measures to reduce bear alerts by installing bear-proof trash bins and conducting public awareness campaigns about the dangers of feeding bears. As a result, the town has seen a significant decrease in bear-related incidents. Tourists also play a role in the problem, as many have been seen feeding bears from their cars, which can be dangerous for both the bears and the people. There are discussions about changing the law to impose fines on those who feed bears. While some believe that culling bears is necessary to manage the population, others argue that more comprehensive solutions are needed to ensure the safety of both humans and bears in Romania.