Spain’s Iberian brown bear population, once close to extinction, has made such a strong recovery that ranger patrols have been established to prevent them from wandering into small villages in the north of the country.
The regional government of Castile and Leon organized a patrol, consisting of nine rangers, to control the population and their crops in the mining town of Villablino and its surroundings, in the province of Palencia, according to reports.
Their mission is to keep the endangered ursines safe and healthy, while allowing the human population to coexist with them.
If locals spot a bear, which can weigh between 330 to 550 pounds and stand more than 6.5 feet tall, they are asked to stay calm and call the ranger’s 24-hour hotline for help.
The bear can weigh anywhere from 330 to 550 pounds and stand over 6.5 feet tall. Reuters
Rangers, armed with radios, rubber ball guns and tracking devices, fired warning shots to clear the animals from the village.
Angeles Orallo, 73, has been trying to keep the bear away from his vegetable garden.
“We are older people… the fact that we can’t go out for a quiet walk is sad,” he lamented. .
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If they see a bear, residents are instructed to call the patrol. Reuters
Thirty years ago, there were only 60 bears left in Spain, but today, the country has 400.
“The increase in the bear population leads to an increase in conflict” with humans, said patrol coordinator Daniel Pinto.
In 2021, a team of veterinarians, biologists and mountain rangers created a satellite system to monitor the animals.
So far, rangers have captured 12 bears. Reuters
Once captured, the bear is sedated and given a GPS collar so it can be easily tracked in the future. So far, the rangers have caught 12 bears which were later released far from the village.
The increase in bears has increased tourism in the area, since people come to the region to catch a glimpse of them in the wild.
By Postal Wire
Categories: Trending
Source: thtrangdai.edu.vn/en/
