Romania Sanctuary Seeks to save Bears as Hunting Resumes

At the Libearty Bear Sanctuary in Zarnesti, in the heart of Romania's Carpathians, over 100 rescued bears roam freely, cared for by a team of animal welfare activists. The center fears that the number of bears needing shelter will increase as the country has authorized the hunting of this protected species, overturning a ban in place since 2016.

Bears are officially protected in Romania, which the government estimates has 8,000 of them the largest population in Europe outside Russia. But now the European Union country is allowing 481 of the protected animals to be killed this year. The government argues the bear population is too large and attacks have been increasing.