Romania seeks EU relief as bear‑related incidents and fines rise

Romanian authorities have intensified actions to address growing human‑bear conflicts. In Sfântu Gheorghe, local officials shot a bear that repeatedly entered the town and set up a trap at Lunca Oltului, while calling for national hunting‑quota legislation that is currently absent.

The Ministry of Agriculture, together with Slovakia, has formally asked the European Commission for derogations that would allow more flexible management of bear populations deemed to be in a favorable conservation status. The request, supported by Croatia, the Czech Republic and Finland, argues that the high bear density in Romania poses safety risks and hampers tourism.

Meanwhile, the National Forest Administration (Romsilva) has imposed six contraventional sanctions totalling 50,000 lei on tourists who fed bears along the Transfăgărășan road, citing a ban that carries fines up to 30,000 lei. Officials warn that feeding habituates bears, increasing the danger of aggressive encounters.

These measures reflect a coordinated effort to curb bear‑related incidents, enforce existing prohibitions, and seek regulatory flexibility at the EU level.