Image: APA/PROVINCIA AUTONOMA DI TRENTO
Based on the opinion of two veterinarians, which the animal protection association LEAL submitted to the administrative court in Trento, the jogger Andrea Papi was not killed by JJ4, but by an adult male bear, as can be seen from the DNA on the man’s corpse.
In a letter, the animal protection association demanded the immediate release of bear JJ4, who had been captured in the meantime. He also demanded the resignation of Trentino governor Maurizio Fugatti, who is campaigning for the killing of problem bears. Last week, the administrative court in Trento suspended the new decree by Governor Fugatti to kill JJ4 after an appeal by the animal rights organizations. For the time being, the predator must not be euthanized. A decision on the bear’s future is expected to be taken by the Administrative Court on May 25th. The animal welfare organizations are calling for the problem bear to be relocated to Germany or Hungary.
Attack on April 5th
On April 5, the jogger was found dead on a forest path in the Trentino municipality of Caldes, in a valley (Val di Sole) popular with hikers and tourists. According to previous knowledge, a bear that had already attracted attention several times had killed the man. It is the sister of the “problem bear” Bruno, who was shot dead in Bavaria in 2006. After an attack in 2020, the bear should have been killed, a court ruled against the killing. The bear was captured and is currently in an animal sanctuary with another so-called problem bear.
According to the province, the number of bears in the area has increased massively since the EU project “Life Ursus”. Instead of the planned 50, around 100 wild animals have settled.
Source: Nachrichten
