A bear’s fatal attack on a 26-year-old jogger in Trentino could have been prevented. The animal has since been identified and is even known as a problem bear. The female attacked and injured two males in the area three years ago.
The confirmation that the bear is the animal with the code “JJ4” came on Wednesday from the Trento public prosecutor’s office after the results of the DNA comparison. News of the identification was released by the prosecutor’s office for “reasons of public interest and security” before the final report was filed.
The animal’s parents are two Slovenian bears, ‘Joze’ and ‘Jurka’, released in 2000 and 2001 into the forests of Trentino as part of the EU-funded ‘Life Ursus’ bear reintroduction project.
Dismissal ordinance revoked
“JJ4” is one of the specimens that the governor of Trentino, Maurizio Fugatti, had already classified as a problem bear and therefore had to be killed. However, the shooting ordinance was overturned by the regional administrative court. The bear was fitted with a radio collar, which is currently inoperative and does not transmit data about the bear’s movements.
On June 22, 2020, “JJ4” attacked and injured two men – father and son – on Mount Peller in the northern Brenta group. The WWF called for the use of bear sprays and spoke out against the killing of problem bears. Rangers, as well as residents and tourists, should carry animal repellent spray or acoustic devices such as rattles on walks to protect themselves. This is already the case in America or Canada, for example.
More freedom in capturing and killing demanded
The “Life Ursus” resettlement project was launched in 1999 with support from the European Union. Ten bears from Slovenia were released into the region, where it was feared at the time that the bear population might go extinct. Originally a population of 50 animals was planned, but currently there are twice as many. The brown bears in Trentino have killed several animals in recent months and also attacked and injured a man. The autonomous province of Trento then demanded more freedom in capturing and killing dangerous animals.
A mourning ceremony is planned for the jogger who died in the municipality of Caldes on Wednesday. Today, Wednesday, is a day of mourning in the 13 municipalities of the Trentino Valley “Val di Sole”.
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
