The local authorities want to euthanize him, but the administrative court of Trento has temporarily blocked the request to this effect from the province.
The “JJ4” bear who killed a jogger on April 5 in northern Italy has been captured by rangers, it was announced on Tuesday local authorities, who wish to euthanize him. The plantigrade had killed Andrea Papi, 26, in the mountainous area of the Autonomous Province of Trento, in the municipality of Caldes.
The death of the young jogger shocked the inhabitants of the region and revived a lively debate between the local councilors, who intend to reduce the population of bears thanks to a slaughter and displacement campaign, and animal rights organizations.
Request for euthanasia blocked
In order to capture “JJ4”, rangers first set up a photo sensor system to locate her, then set up a cylindrical trap containing bait. The bear entered with two of her three two-year-old cubs, who were later released.
“JJ4” was put to sleep in the presence of two veterinarians and transported to a specialized shelter. The local authorities want to euthanize him, but the administrative court of Trento has temporarily blocked the request to this effect from the province.
“We cannot make a prison for bears”, justified this Tuesday during a press conference Raffaele De Col, head of local civil protection. “The solution lies in neutralizing problematic individuals.”
Move some bears
Maurizio Fugatti, president of the autonomous province of Trento, reaffirmed his desire to reduce the number of bears present in his region by moving several dozen, without specifying what their destination could be.
He estimates that the number of bears currently estimated on the territory (up to 120) is much higher than the objectives of the project to reintroduce the species “Life Ursus”, launched in 1994.
“Those who have the project at heart should not dwell on the fate of JJ4 (…). (They) should rather help us to transfer the other individuals. If we do not act, the project runs to its end. loss.”
Local authorities want to kill three individuals considered dangerous, including “JJ4”, and move 70 others. The local authorities and the Ministry of the Environment plan to set up a technical committee to draw up this travel plan.
“You cannot move a wild animal born in a given territory like that”, recently indicated Antonio Nicoletti, head of protected areas and biodiversity at the environmental defense association Legambiente.
