Romania authorizes up to 900 brown bear killings in 2026‑27 to curb human‑bear conflicts

Romania has raised its annual quota for brown bear culls to 859 animals – nearly 900 – for the 2026 and 2027 hunting seasons. The increase targets a rise in dangerous encounters on the Transfăgărășan road, where bear sightings and traffic accidents have become frequent, including the 2025 death of Italian motorcyclist Omar Farang Zin after an alleged bear attack.

The country hosts Europe’s largest brown‑bear population outside Russia, estimated at 10,000‑13,000 by the Romanian Ministry of Environment. The new quota has sparked debate among officials, wildlife experts and animal‑rights groups, who question whether culling will effectively reduce conflicts and point to non‑lethal measures such as waste management, feeding bans and electric fencing. Similar safety concerns have arisen in Italy after a bear‑related fatality in the Trentino Alps.