Posted on Fri, Sep. 26, 2008


Romanian hunters now allowed to shoot urban bears

The Associated Press

BUCHAREST, Romania - Romanian authorities have decided to let hunters shoot bears that are increasingly moving into urban areas to find food.

Some of the animals have become tame, allowing tourists to take close-up photographs. But a few months ago a bear killed a man in the city of Brasov.

Environment Minister Attila Korodi said Thursday that he authorized hunting associations to shoot the bears in areas frequented by tourists in Brasov and the Prahova valley.

Authorities say they are monitoring some 800 bears in the Brasov area, 100 more than last year.

Romania is home to 60 percent of the bears in the European Union.