Rumanian President Nicușor Dan signed a law on October 6, 2026, authorizing the preventive culling of 859 brown bears this year to curb a rising population and a surge in attacks. The measure also permits the removal of an additional 110 protected large wild animals as an intervention measure if they pose an immediate threat to human life. The legislation returns to the spotlight after months of legal challenges and a parliamentary review.
Legal Battles and Parliamentary Passage of the Bear Culling Law
President Nicușor Dan initially challenged the legislation before the Constitutional Court and returned it to Parliament for reconsideration. The Constitutional Court subsequently rejected the challenge, and the Chamber of Deputies repassed the law without amendments on September 16, keeping it identical to the version approved by the Senate. The bill was originally introduced by the Democratic Alliance of Hungarians in Romania (RMDS).
Senator Tánczos Barna, acting deputy prime minister and one of the law’s initiators, stated that the alliance requested preventive quotas to be doubled for this year and 2027 following a scientific mapping study. That study estimated the country’s brown bear population between 10,600 and 12,700, making it the largest population and highest genetic diversity in Europe.
Ministry Reports Bear Population Exceeds Optimal Level by Three Times
Rumania’s Ministry of the Environment maintains that the current bear population sits at three times the optimal level for the territory. In the first eight months of the year, authorities recorded nearly 300 reports of bears entering human settlements, alongside a sharp rise in attacks and fatalities. Two specific attacks occurred in Covasna County during that same eight-month window.
Incidents have also involved tourists. In late May, a Bulgarian tourist was attacked by a bear on a mountain road after attempting to feed it. Feeding bears is strictly prohibited in Rumania, with fines ranging between 10,000 and 30,000 lei (approximately 1,909 to 5,727 euros).
Implementation Challenges in Covasna County
Local officials warn that executing the authorized quotas before the year ends will prove exceptionally difficult due to the prolonged legal delays. The Prefect of Covasna County, Ráduly István, warned that the limited time remaining in the calendar year makes fulfilling the assigned culling quota impossible. In the Secuiland region of the county, authorities must cull 86 bears this year, and while 30 have already been removed, the remaining time is insufficient to finish the quota.
Frequently Asked Questions About Rumania’s Bear Culling Law
How many brown bears are targeted for preventive culling?
The law authorizes the preventive culling of 859 brown bears for the year, alongside an additional 110 animals designated for removal if they threaten human life.
What is the estimated brown bear population in Rumania?
A scientific study mapped the population between 10,600 and 12,700 animals, representing the largest brown bear population and highest genetic diversity in Europe.
Why are local officials warning that the quota cannot be met?
Covasna County Prefect Ráduly István stated that months of legal disputes have left too little time before the end of the year to complete regional targets, such as the 86 bears assigned to Secuiland.
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