[size=85:1stxgk2c]novinite 18 May 2010

Killer Bear Terrorizes Bulgarian Village

A 65-year-old man has been killed by a bear in the Rhodope Mountains in Southern Bulgaria.

According to Commissar Kiril Hadzhihristev, head of the Regional Police Directorate of the Smolyan District, it is absolutely certain that the victim, Nikola Shikov from the village of Kutela, was attacked and killed by a bear Monday afternoon.

Shikov is believed to have been out in the local forest collecting firewood when he fell pray to the killer bear.

Local people have discovered his mutilated corpse later. They have traced the blood tracks to the den of the animal.

Emil Stoyanov, mayor of Kutela, has explained that the residents of the village are in a state of horror, and are afraid to leave their homes.

He also said there had been attacks by bears on domestic animals and bee-hives every single year in the last five years but that the bears never dared to attack a human before.

“I am very concerned because according to recent data there are some 220 bears living in the Smolyan Municipality. The problem is exacerbated by the fact that the bears are starving because there is no functioning system for supplying food for them. Yet, humans should not become food for the bears,” stated Smolyan Mayor Dora Yankova as quoted by dir.bg.

Yankova has called upon everybody in the area to be alert over the danger, and has moved to convene a meeting of all responsible local institutions including the Regional Environment and Waters Inspectorate, the Regional Forestry Agency, and the police in order to figure out a solution to what appears to be an emering starving bears issue.

This is very sad news but in some ways I would say its part of the wonder of Bulgaria I don't mean that how it may sound but it just shows you that nature still thrives in Bulgaria but very sad indeed

Oh my god what can I say? this is so sad and yes its sad for the bear to lets face it the bear was here first and its the same everywhere we as humans think nothing about taking over a bears home but we wouldn't stand for it if it were us that was being kicked out would we, yes its sad and my heart goes out to the family of the victim

sarah

[size=85:imex3e3s]Souce lifextra

I've found this article about the wolf' and bear populations in Bulgaria very interesting, the last paragraph goes well with the news above, especially about the lack of food and the raiding of bee hives.

Status of wolves and bears in Bulgaria


Wolf

According to the Bulgarian legislation the Grey wolf (Canis Lupus L.) is a species which habitat should be protected with high priority, according to the provisions of the Natura 2000 network (species in Annex II of Biological Diversity Act with asterisk). The species in Bulgaria is not legally protected. It is included in Annex I of Hunting and Game Conservation Act and accordingly can be hunted all the year around.
The Bulgarian wolf population suffered a severe decline in the last century, especially during 1950’s-1960’s, due to massive predator control (incl. bounties and nationally organized poisoning campaign with strychnine). As a result wolves almost got extinct and small groups survived only on the country’s border areas in Rhodope Mountains, Strandja Mountains and Kraishte region. The population started it’s recovery in early 1980’s after the use of strychnine has been prohibited. Nowadays this species inhabits all mountainous regions and most of the lowland forests. The governmentally organized “census” provides number of around 2000-2300 individuals but the data is gathered mainly by questionnaires instead of unified scientifically proved methods. That is why those numbers are considered to be overestimated. According to expert’s estimations the population does not exceed 1000-1200 individuals. Its distribution range covers over 25000 km2, which represents about 25% of the country’s territory.

Brown bear

At the beginning of the 20th century the Brown bear was considered a pest species and bounties were paid for killed bears. As a result in 1930ties only less than 300 individuals remained. After the species was put under protection and starting from the 1950ties the population increased again as result of effective measures taken for preservation and limitation of the hunting pressure. In the 1980ties the communist government put the bear on a list of managed animals, for which hunting on national level was forbidden except for very few individuals that were shot per year by high ranked politicians and foreign trophy hunters from abroad. This offered this species a high protection level although being a game species. After the 90ties, after the change of the regime, intensive hunting and poaching increased again, which led the Ministry of Environment to ratify a decree that declared the species under protection, with exceptions for animals causing damages or being dangerous for humans. Since 2002 the Brown bear is a strictly protected species (included in Annex III of the Biological Diversity Act) and the species’ habitats should be protected with high priority and be included in the Natura 2000 network (species in Annex II of BDA with asterisk). Also here, exceptions are made only following the EU derogation rules for the removal of problem bears.

The Bulgarian brown bear population is nowadays divided into 2 subpopulations with little or no contact between them – the Rilo-Rhodopean with about 300-500 individuals and the Central Balkan population with some 100-200 bears. According to a research carried out by Balkani Wildlife Society, which included field work, the submission of questionnaires and population modelling bears are distributed on approximately 10.500 km2 of the country territory (about 10% of the country) and the population is estimated to be between 400-700 individuals. The official census of spring 2009 reported 1021 bears in the country. Similarly as for wolves, this census is not reliable and is considered overestimated by scientists and conservationists.

Threats and problems

Human dimension carried out by Balkani WS shows than inhabitants in bear and wolf areas have in general positive attitude towards bears but negative towards wolves.
Due to the low density of wild ungulates (cause by illegal over-hunting) and not efficient protection of livestock, wolves often use anthropogenic food sources. Livestock is raised within the wolf habitats and damages caused by predators are frequent. As a consequence livestock breeders require from the hunting authorities to control (exterminate) wolves. Also, baiting with poisons occurs, although it is strictly illegal.
Hunting authorities/societies blame wolves for the decreasing number of big game without considering the high level of poaching after the political changes in 1989. Due to the above mentioned reasons the wolf still is considered as a pest, can be hunted legally all the year around and a bounty for every shot animal is still paid.
Regarding bears, only problem individuals can be hunted legally in exceptional cases. The recently accepted Brown Bear Action Plan for Bulgaria includes provisions to regulate hunting for management reasons, but these regulations have not been implemented yet. In fact, hunting permits are issued mainly for the purpose of hunting tourism instead of the proper treatment of problem bears.
In Bulgaria people generally have a positive attitude towards bears, although also this species causes damages on livestock, apiaries and orchards.
However, many bears are also killed illegally since this animal it is a rare and wanted trophy, sometimes they are accidentally killed on wild boar hunts, for fear or curiosity (especially in areas with no permanent presence).
As a consequence of the economic hardship after the political changes in 1989, and due to a lack of efficient control there is very intensive logging and mushroom collecting. Due to this disturbance the habitats that could be effectively used by bears are avoided by these animals. Therefore they will have less natural food sources available, which drives them to seek for alternative high energy source of food such as easily available beehives and livestock. At the same time many ski resorts, sport facilities (ski slopes, lifts, golf courses etc.), dam lakes, fenced areas for game breeding, motorways, etc. are planned or already existing in important bear habitats and corridor areas. All this together with the existing infrastructure creates fragmentation, which might highly endanger the bear population in the country. The calculated carrying capacity of Central Balkan habitat is less than 250 individuals and the subpopulation is almost completely isolated. Such population, if completely isolated, cannot survive on the long term.

[size=85:2njwhy3u]Sofia echo 15 July 2010

Woman mowed down brown bear in Bulgaria in stable condition

A woman who was attacked and badly injured by a brown bear in south Bulgaria was reported as stable, although her condition remained serious and she had suffered serious and extensive trauma, private Bulgarian television channel bTV reported.

On July 14, two sisters ventured in the forest near Malka Arda in the Rhodope Mountains range looking for mushrooms when they stumbled across a brown bear. The incident occurred at about 9am between the villages of Malka Arda and Oryahovets in south Bulgaria, in the municipality of Banite.

One of the women managed to escape but the other one was cornered by the animal and attacked, suffering several "
serious blows"
. The woman was taken by a paramedic unit to a hospital in Smolyan, the report said.

The injured woman was reported to have "
nearly her entire scalp missing"
as a consequence of the attack. Her sister had started yelling and pelting the bear with rocks before the animal eventually lost interest and disappeared into the woods. She then called the paramedic unit, which took the woman to the emergency ward.

Local residents believe that there are more than 280 bears in the area, but experts in the field say that the exact number cannot be determined. According to Galyan Minchev, head of the regional environmental inspectorate, the process to determine the exact number of bears was very complicated and difficult.

The Bulgarian brown bear (Ursus arctos arctos) is a subspecies of the brown bear (Ursus arctos), and found across northern Eurasia. The brown bear is also known as the "
common brown bear"
, and colloquially by many other names.

The animal is widespread in Bulgaria. Bears are found on Vitosha Mountain near Sofia, as well as Rila, Pirin and Rhodope ranges, the Lozenska Mountain and Bulgaria's spine, the massive Stara Planina range. The Bulgarian brown bear is a protected species, and their killing is authorised only if they have been proven to attack humans.



Bulgarian Govt Allows Bear Hunt after Latest Killer Attack

Bulgaria’s Environment Minister has allowed the hunting down of brown bears whenever necessary after a woman barely survived an attack by a killer bear.

A 64-year-old woman was assaulted by a bear on Wednesday as she was gathering mushrooms together with her sister near the village of Malka Arda in the Smolyan District in the Rhodoppe Mountain.

The woman was saved as her sister managed to scare off the bear, and was taken in a coma to the Smolyan hospital where she regained consciousness Thursday morning, and her condition was stabilized.

The village of Malka Arda is about 30 km from the village of Kutela where a 60-year-old man was killed and mutilated by a killer bear in May, which was subsequently hunted down.

According to the local mayor of the Banite Municipality, there are 49 brown bears in the region while a population of only four should be admissible given under the environmental regulations.

Bulgaria’s Environment Minister Nona Karadzhova has sent a letter to the District Governor of Smolyan saying that her institution will allow the hunting down of any animals suspected of being killer bears.

The Ministry is also investing BGN 170 000 in a project to ensure the protection of the population in the Western Rhodoppe Mountain by monitoring closely the brown bear population in the region including by using GPS transmitters, safety sprays, and special bear traps.

It also envisages a program to plant wild berries in the mountain regions in order to spread the bear population away from the local villages.

[size=85:1nno8dhj]Sofia echo 21 July 2010

Ministry: One brown bear to be shot and eight to be relocated following attack

The Bulgarian Environment Ministry has authorised police and park rangers to hunt down and kill the bear which mauled a woman, leaving her in critical condition. Additionally, eight other bears which are reported to be near rural settlements in the area and could be dangerous to people living there are to be caught and relocated

The authorisation was given to the Slaveino hunting club in the village of Slaveinovo. They are to "
organise a hunting party in the Banite Municipality near Malka Arda and have the bear killed,"
bTV said on July 21 2010.

A woman was attacked by a Bulgarian brown bear on the morning of July 14 2010 and was in a serious condition in hospital.

The incident occurred at about 9am between the villages of Malka Arda and Oryahovets in south Bulgaria, in the Municipality of Banite, according to Malka Arda mayor Rossen Iliev.

The two sisters had gone into the forest to collect mushrooms when they encountered a brown bear. One of the women managed to escape but the other one was cornered by the animal and attacked, suffering several "
serious blows"
. The woman was taken by a paramedic unit to a hospital in Smolyan, where she was later reported in serious but stable condition.

Additionally, the Ministry has authorised the park rangers and other respective authorities to capture eight bears and have them relocated safely in "
high mountainous areas where bear population is at low density and far away from populated areas"
the report said.

The bears will be caught using traps designed to "
inflict no permanent harm to the animal's foot"
and then fitted out with collars equipped with GPS devices which will keep the park rangers informed at their whereabouts. The action will be conducted in conjunction with the Regional Inspectorate for the Environment and Waters and park rangers from Balkani.

In May 2010, a brown bear killed a man near the Smolyan village of Koutela, which prompted to the authorities to order the bear killed. However, such events are rare and attacks on humans are reportedly "
exceptional cases"
.

The Bulgarian brown bear is, in effect, the (Ursus arctos arctos) a subspecies of the brown bear (Ursus arctos), and found across northern Eurasia. The brown bear is also known as the "
common brown bear"
, and colloquially by many other names.

The animal is widespread in Bulgaria. Bears are found on Vitosha Mountain, close to Sofia as well as Rila, Pirin, the Rhodope mountains, the Lozenska Mountain and Bulgaria's spine, the massive Stara Planina range.

The Bulgarian brown bear is a protected species, and their killing is authorised only if they have been proven to attack humans.

Bulgarian Peasants Mad over Govt Measures against Killer Bears

Locals in Southern Bulgaria have expressed their indignation over what they see as inadequate measures taken up by the government to protect them from killer bears.

The protests became increasingly vocal during an information campaign meeting staged by Bulgaria’s Environment Ministry in the village of Kutela, Smolyan District, where one man was killed by a bear in the spring.

Earlier in July, an elderly woman barely survived a bear attack in another village in the Smolyan District located 30 km away from the village of Kutela, in the Rhodopi Mountains.

The locals have complained that they constantly feel threatened by the bears, and that they fear for both their lives, and their livestock such as cattle, sheep, goats, and bees.

“Are bears more important than people?,” asked the locals as cited by the Bulgarian National Television, as government officials tried to explain to them how to behave in case of a bear attack.

The peasants said the information fliers handed out to them were ridiculous, and that the sprays with which they are supposed to fend off the attacks of killer bears were a joke.

According to the officials of the Environment Directorate in Smolyan, the sprays they gave to the locals could be a very efficient means of protection against bears.

“We have decided to make these fliers because everyone, including the Mayor of Smolyan, said there was little information about how to deal with bears,” explained a government expert.

The Kutela residents said they would move and abandon their village to the bears as long as the government finds a way to resettle them.

They believe that the local population of bears is excessive – it is estimated at about 50 animals, while the local people believe that the region can sustain no more than 30, thus leading some of the bears to attack livestock and humans.

this was my biggest fear of moving to bulgaria, bears, no fence no walls and living near the forrest, they are by nature such wonder, but such a powerful beast, you dont stand a chance against them really. sad to hear of human death, but you will never win in a confrontation with a bear, they are happy in their world but disturbe them and you have no chance. they are becoming tame by the food in litter bins left by humans and thats not good, nature will always rule over domestication.

[size=85:22pr8blo]Sofia echo 23 July 2010

Bulgarian brown bear takes a stroll down village square in search for food

Only two days after lawmakers from Bulgaria's ruling party were reported to be preparing amendments to the Hunting and Game Conservation Act because of a bear attack that left a woman in critical condition - another bear had decided to take a stroll down a village square.

The Bulgarian brown bear casually went for a walk down the streets of Hassovitsa, a village just outside the southeastern town of Smolyan, looking for food, Bulgarian news agency Focus reported on July 23 2010.

Residents were bewildered when the animal descended in the village late in the evening on July 22 and went to the village square, apparently drawn by the smell of the waste bins, according to eyewitness reports quoted by Focus.

According to eyewitness Iliyana Nikolova, the bear proceeded to raid the bins looking for something to eat. She described meeting with the bear as "
horrible"
and one that she would "
never forget"
.

She then cried for help but by the time two men came to her assistance, the bear had slipped into the woods and disappeared.

Meanwhile, Bulgarian legislators are pushing for an amendment that would give the authority to issue special hunting permits to the Agriculture Ministry, rather than the Environment ministry, after another attack by a brown bear in southeastern Bulgaria left a woman in critical condition.

The Environment Ministry authorised police and park rangers to hunt down and kill the bear involved in the attack. Additionally, eight other bears reported to be near rural settlements in the area, which could be dangerous to locals, are to be caught and relocated.

We have a home in Kutela which we bought and have been renovating over the last six years, in fact the bear that killed the villager had been seen by the beehives behind our house earlier earlier the same morning of the fatal attack.

There have been occasions in the past when we have been woken in the night by excessive barking from the village dogs. Locals say this is normally caused by bears scavenging for food,personally we have never seen a bear or any sign of prints in the area.

I sympathise with the locals as no matter how scared they are they have to take the cattle up to the pastures every day and carry on felling trees in the forest to scrape a living.

Although what has happened is tragic life goes on and scare mongering is not the answer, something needs to be done to relocate bears that are beginning to prefer village life to berries and bark.

When we are here I feel much safer walking in the forests even with the bears, than venturing through the streets of Leeds after midnight.
Kutela is a beautiful village, the people are the salt of the earth. They want freedom to carry on as before this tragic incident, and the bears -relocate not exterminate.

Saw this Do's &
Don't around Bears

Bear Facts [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.] ... rfacts.htm

Oddy

I can't seem to find anything on that site about bears Berni any idea's where I should be looking

Here you go Scott have copied it for you - but not relating to Bulagaria just 'Bear facts'

Bear Facts
The Essentials of Traveling in Bear Country

Brown bearBears and People
Close Encounters: What to do
Protection
In Summary


Bear Behavior

One of the things that makes Alaska so special is that all three species of North American bears flourish here. There is a chance that you may be lucky enough to see a bear. But even if you don't you will never be far from one, because Alaska is bear country.

Brown/grizzly bears are found from the islands of southeastern Alaska to the arctic. Black bears inhabit most of Alaska's forests. Polar bears frequent the pack ice and tundra of extreme northern and western Alaska.

Bears are curious, intelligent and potentially dangerous animals, but undue fear of bears can endanger both bears and people. Many bears are killed each year by people who are afraid of them. Respecting bears and learning proper behavior in their territory will help so that if you encounter a bear, neither of you will suffer needlessly from the experience.

Most bears tend to avoid people. In most cases, if you give a bear the opportunity to do the right thing, it will. Many bears live in Alaska and many people enjoy the outdoors, but surprisingly few people even see bears. Only a tiny percentage of those few are ever threatened by a bear. A study by the state epidemiologist showed that during the first 85 years of this century, only 20 people died in bear attacks in Alaska. In the 10 years 1975-85, 19 people in Alaska were killed by dogs.

Most people who see a bear in the wild consider it the highlight of their trip. The presence of these majestic creatures is a reminder of how privileged we are to share some of the country's dwindling wilderness.
Bears and People
Bears Don't Like Surprises

If you are hiking through bear country, make your presence known - especially where the terrain or vegetation makes it hard to see. Make noise, sing, talk loudly or tie a bell to your pack. If possible, travel with a group. Groups are noisier and easier for bears to detect. Avoid thick brush. If you can't, try to walk with the wind at your back so your scent will warn bears of your presence. Contrary to popular belief, bears can see almost as well as people, but trust their noses much more than their eyes or ears. Always let bears know you are there.

Bears, like humans, use trails and roads. Don't set up camp close to a trail they might use. Detour around areas where you see or smell carcasses of fish or animals, or see scavengers congregated. A bear's food may be there and if the bear is nearby, it may defend the cache aggressively.


Don't Crowd Bears!

Give bears plenty of room. Some bears are more tolerant than others, but every bear has a "
personal space"
- the distance within which a bear feels threatened. If you stray within that zone, a bear may react aggressively. When photographing bears, use long lenses;
getting close for a great shot could put you inside the danger zone.
Bears Are Always Looking for Something to Eat!

Bears have only about six months to build up fat reserves for their long winter hibernation. Don't let them learn human food or garbage is an easy meal. It is both foolish and illegal to feed bears, either on purpose or by leaving food or garbage that attracts them.

Cook away from your tent. Store all food away from your campsite. Hang food out of reach of bears if possible. If no trees are available, store your food in airtight or specially designed bear-proof containers. Remember, pets and their food may also attract bears.

Keep a clean camp. Wash your dishes. Avoid smelly food like bacon and smoked fish. Keep food smells off your clothing. Burn garbage completely in a hot fire and pack out the remains. Food and garbage are equally attractive to a bear so treat them with equal care. Burying garbage is a waste of time. Bears have keen noses and are great diggers.

If a bear approaches while you are fishing, stop fishing. If you have a fish on your line, don't let it splash. If that's not possible, cut your line. If a bear learns it can obtain fish just by approaching fisherman, it will return for more.
Close Encounters: What to do

If you see a bear, avoid it if you can. Give the bear every opportunity to avoid you. If you do encounter a bear at close distance, remain calm. Attacks are rare. Chances are, you are not in danger. Most bears are interested only in protecting food, cubs or their "
personal space."
Once the threat is removed, they will move on. Remember the following:
Identify Yourself

Let the bear know you are human. Talk to the bear in a normal voice. Wave your arms. Help the bear recognize you. If a bear cannot tell what you are, it may come closer or stand on its hind legs to get a better look or smell. A standing bear is usually curious, not threatening. You may try to back away slowly diagonally, but if the bear follows, stop and hold your ground.
Don't Run

You can't outrun a bear. They have been clocked at speeds up to 35 mph, and like dogs, they will chase fleeing animals. Bears often make bluff charges, sometimes to within 10 feet of their adversary, without making contact. Continue waving your arms and talking to the bear. If the bear gets too close, raise your voice and be more aggressive. Bang pots and pans. Use noisemakers. Never imitate bear sounds or make a high-pitched squeal.
If Attacked

If a bear actually makes contact, surrender! Fall to the ground and play dead. Lie flat on your stomach, or curl up in a ball with your hands behind your neck. Typically, a bear will break off it's attack once it feels the threat has been eliminated. Remain motionless for as long as possible. If you move, and the bear sees or hears you, it may return and renew its attack. In rare instances, particularly with black bears, an attacking bear may perceive a person as food. If the bear continues biting you long after you assume a defensive posture, it likely is a predatory attack. Fight back vigorously.


Protection

Firearms should never be used as the alternative to common-sense approaches to bear encounters. If you are inexperienced with a firearm in emergency situations, you are more likely to be injured by a gun than a bear. It is illegal to carry firearms in some of Alaska's national parks, so check before you go.

A .300-Magnum rifle or a 12-gauge shotgun with rifled slugs are appropriate weapons if you have to shoot a bear. Heavy handguns such as a .44-Magnum may be inadequate in emergency situations, especially in untrained hands.

State law allows a bear to be shot in self-defense if you did not provoke the attack and if there is no alternative, but the hide and skull must be salvaged and turned over to the authorities.

Defensive aerosol sprays which contain capsaicin (red pepper extract) have been used with some success for protection against bears. These sprays may be effective at a range of 6-8 yards. If discharged upwind or in a vehicle, they can disable the user. Take appropriate precautions. If you carry a spray can, keep it handy and know how to use it.

In Summary

* Avoid surprising bears at close distance, look for signs of bears and make plenty of noise.
* Avoid crowding bears;
respect their "
personal space."

* Avoid attracting bears through improper handling of food or garbage.
* Plan ahead, stay calm, identify yourself, don't run.

Black bear
In most cases, bears are not a threat, but they do deserve your respect and attention. When traveling in bear country, keep alert and enjoy the opportunity to see these magnificent animals in their natural habitat.

Hi Oddy,

Thanks for the info, just read it but memorising it all in a emergency situation may be a problem

Vic S

Well now Vic S let me see, Oh yes [size=200:vd5nd9p4]RUN MATE Thats the only thing I might remember

Oddy