Romania sanctuary seeks to save bears as hunting resumes

At a bear sanctuary in the heart of Romania’s Carpathians, several cubs believed to have been orphaned have just arrived.

There are fears that more will need shelter now that the country has authorised the hunting of this protected species, effectively overturning a ban in place since 2016.

Florin Ticusan and his team care for 128 brown bears at the Libearty Bear Sanctuary, which says it is the biggest such refuge in the world. The facility is located in Zarnesti, 180km (111 miles) north of the capital, Bucharest.

Bears are officially protected in Romania. The government estimates there are 8,000 of them, the largest population in Europe outside Russia.

There was a hunting quota of 220 last year and 140 the year before, but in those instances, the permits came with tight restrictions.