Bears need to be left alone in the wild. In this sense, the Central Balkan National Park and its environs offer excellent conditions for this predatory species of animal. Still, bears have been leaving their natural environment more and more often. One report of such an encounter is from Zhultesh village, where a bear appeared in broad daylight, and crossed the busy Gabrovo-Tryavna road near the village unperturbed.

“It is so interesting to see this species travelling such long distances in just one day, or the seasonal migrations in search of food. So, if one day we have seen a bear in one place, tomorrow it could be in a neighbouring village, or could have crossed over to the other side of the Balkan Range. That leaves the impression of there being many bears in many places, while in actual fact it is often the same bear that has been seen in a wider area,” Yanitsa Ivanova, expert at the Central Balkan National Park explains in an interview with Velina Mahlebashieva from the BNR’s Horizont channel.

Reports of “bear raids” on beehives and domestic animals have been growing more and more frequent around the country. More and more often, in early spring, bears come down into the mountain villages and come face to face with the locals. One of the reasons is that having woken after months of hibernation high up in the mountain, bears are hungry and start looking for food – in places where people live. But not only that:

“During mating season – May-June – the females with infant bears and the young males avoid older, more mature male bears because they are ready to kill so as to copulate with the females. That is why we urge people not to leave food or food waste out in the open. Once bears start feeding off food that is in close proximity to humans, they will start associating food with people and from then on, institutions will have a hard time coping with the problem. Videos have been circulating on social media, in which people leave food out for the bears calling them “poor, hungry, helpless animals”. No, they are no such thing. They are wild animals,” says Yanitsa Ivanova.

Shooting the bear is a last resort. In Bulgaria bears have been a protected species since 1992 but once it has been proven that a specific species has lost all fear of humans and is a risk, such a procedure does exist. Meanwhile, the people from Zhultesh are relying on steps being taken so the bear will be moved to its natural habitat.

“Moving the bears is one solution. When there is a report of a bear that is a problem, a rapid response team is put together. The purpose of moving a bear is to keep it as far away as possible from the place it is accustomed to finding food. But if the animal has been feeding close to a human for too long, this method does not always work,” Yanitsa Ivanova warns.

More:

• Photohunting brown bears in Bulgaria
• Belitsa - town of dancing bears and fascinating scenery
• WWF celebrates the second anniversary of its Bear Rescue Squad with a charity party

Interview by Velina Mahlebashieva, Horizont channel, BR

Compiled by Veneta Nikolova

Translated and posted by Milena Daynova