Lesser bear-caused damage, as 40 animals harvested this year in Covasna County

A total of 40 bears were harvested this year in Covasna County, according to the quota approved by the Ministry of Environment and to the legal intervention measures for the immediate elimination of dangerous specimens.

According to the director of the Covasna Environmental Protection Agency Gheorghe Neagu, 28 bears were harvested from the quota of 54 allocated to the county this year under Law 242 of 2024, and 12 bears considered dangerous were shot based on Ordinance 81 of 2021; also, 11 animals were relocated.

As a result, the damage caused by these wild animals decreased significantly.

Neagu also mentioned that, according to official estimates, about 2,350 bears live in Covasna County, compared to an optimal of 500-600.

Local authorities claim that the current frequent bear incidents are the consequence of the fact that for years in a row no measures have been taken to balance the bear population, which has favored their excessive multiplication.