Romanian Parliament votes to increase hunting quota for brown bears

A draft law with measures to manage the bear population in Romania passed the Parliament on Monday, July 15, with 214 votes to 7 and 23 abstentions. The bill, which came again into focus after the recent deadly attack on a hiker in the Carpathians, increases the hunting quota for the brown bear to almost 500 from the current 220. However, environmental groups say hunting is insufficient and should not be the first solution to lower the number of bear attacks or sustainably manage the population.

The project was adopted during an emergency session of the Parliament, summoned by prime minister Marcel Ciolacu following the death of a 19-year-old tourist who was attacked by a bear on a popular mountain trail in the Bucegi mountains. The MPs also held a moment of silence in the girl's honor.