Environment minister: Latest estimates say up to 8,000 bears roam Romania’s forests

There are between 7,536 and 8,093 brown bears roaming the forests in Romania, according to a recent study presented on April 5 by environment minister Barna Tánczos. The same estimates reveal a national average density of 11 individuals per 100 square kilometres.

"The maximum number was calculated using the EU average annual growth of 1.13% per year and starting from the EU reference value of 5,960-6,620 specimens for the year 2007," the Environment Ministry explained in the press release.

According to News.ro, a study carried out in 2016 estimated a minimum of 5,900 and a maximum of 6,500 bears at the national level.

"The study shows that we have a constant increase in the bear population in Romania. As it is a scientific study, there is no room for personal opinions. […] The point of view of the Ministry of Environment is that a constant increase in the bear population in Romania generates a constant rise in interactions, human-bear conflicts and a constant increase in the number and value of the damage generated by this species," minister Barna Tánczos said, quoted by News.ro.

He also said that a new ministerial order to be signed by May 15 would provide for the prevention quotas for the bear population. It foresees a higher quota than last year, considering the increase in the bear population, the minister explained.

According to Euronews Romania, the order to be signed by the environment minister allows the killing of over 400 bears this year, up from 140 in 2022.

"Last year, we had a ministerial order for 140 individuals. That order was put into practice by the hunting associations through specialized technical staff. INCDS (e.n. the National Institute for Forestry Research and Development) proposes a prevention quota of 426 individuals. They will be distributed in certain areas based on damage, attacks, amount of damage, number of unfortunate deaths," minister Barna Tánczos said, quoted by Euronews.ro.

Environmental non-profits say there is no scientific basis for this bear population estimate.